Manchester City F.C. | MATCHDAY LIVE | Man City v Aston Villa - 12 Feb 2023 Man City - Offical Club website.

Three points and three different scorers today. It was crucial that we returned to winning ways this afternoon and that's exactly what we did.

With a trip to league leaders Arsenal on Wednesday, the players won't get much time to rest and reflect now. It's undeniably a huge game in North London and we'll be there every step of the way.

Before then, we'll have more reaction and highlights from today's game on mancity.com and the official app later tonight and into tomorrow. Pep will again face the media on Tuesday too.

Thank you for your company today, Blues. Until Wednesday...

"He has the ability to play in the 10 positions because he is so smart. He is not tall but he is smart. I like Rico [Lewis] in these positions like Delph or Zinchenko did in the past. Today, I wanted Bernardo to do it. We need him."

"Ruben because he was on a yellow card. With Watkins running in behind I didn't want to risk it.

"Erling got a kick and we will assess in the next few days [before Arsenal]."

"We played in general a really good game. We could press better in the first half. We changed in the second half and it was better. Unfortunately we conceded another goal from a mistake."

The Etihad Stadium loves this man.

"We have the chance to go top. Go there and show our personality, the team that we are. They are playing at an incredible level and we have an incredible level too. It is going to be an incredible fight and an incredible battle and we have the chance to be on top of the table so that's what we have to think."

The first half was the worst performance we have had since I came here. Man City are a very good team. They needed to win to fight with Arsenal for the Premier League. 

The first mistake we made they scored. They were with a lot of possession but we were with good position. The second goal was a big mistake. The communication wasn't good.

The second half we said to forget the result and continue in our work. Maybe they changed something as well and were pushing less than the first half. They deserved to win.

Head to mancity.com to read our match report in full.

The Blues blew Villa away in a first period full of vim and vigour to close in on Arsenal whose lead has been cut to just three points ahead of Wednesday's summit meeting in North London.

The visitors pulled a goal back after the break, but City were comfortable and were the better team throughout.

Don't forget, highlights will be available later this evening. Short option at 20:15 before extended highlights at midnight.

This graphic shows which team was on top at that particular minute of the match. 

As you can see, Villa had their periods. Although their goal did come out of absolutely nothing.