Man City v Newcastle - 15 Feb 2025 Manchester City FC - Official Website of Man City F.C.

That's a wrap, folks! Pep's press conference has entered the embargo section so we're all done here. Stay tuned on the Man City App and mancity.com as we have an interview with Omar Marmoush, Pep's press conference coming up as well as brief highlights at 19:30 (UK) and extended highlights and a Full Match Replay (via CITY+) at midnight (UK). Then, we'll do it all again against Real Madrid on Wednesday evening! Have a great weekend and thanks for joining us here in the Matchday Centre today.

"The presence from Nico help us a lot in the 50/50s. He wins seven and we can go. The club make an incredible investment for the future. He’s 23, he’s like a mini-Rodri. It’s a big complement but in the duels he is. He’s far away in other things because Rodri is the best."

On Ederson: "Always there are men free when the goalkeeper has the ball. Newcastle are aggressive in high pressing. We saw with the pace we have up front with Phil, Omar, Erling it’s one v one for 40 metres. 

"Eddy is the best in the world in these situations. Yesterday I saw the long ball with Mitoma {from the Brighton keeper}. We saw in the past with Sergio he make an assist as well. When the team defend like that we can do it. We need the movement and many things to have it."

"Amazing day. The feeling is crazy of course, it’s the first hat-trick of my career so it’s a really, really nice feeling. From the beginning of the match we came, from the first minute, really focused on the job and we got the job done.

"It was all fast paced, so I’m really happy to help the team. The most important thing is to get the three points and we did what we could always do.

"I also have to thank my teammates, my coach, the staff, everyone helped me from the first day in feeling a part of this family. They helped me show my qualities and helped me reach where I reached today. It’s just the beginning and we are looking forward to the next games.

I’m really happy that I helped the team, but now the game is behind us, we look forward to our next game and start focusing on the next game.

"Yeah [the fans were] amazing, it was an amazing atmosphere. I’d like to thank the fans for the really nice applause and hopefully there will be many more."

Before the press conference, here's what the boss said to Sky...

"The way we played, we remembered what we were and what we have not been this season.

"We always try, but sometimes we cannot do it. I am really pleased with the pace and intensity we had up front, Nico [Gonzalez] and [Abdukodir] Khusanov were extraordinary. We need to win these games to qualify for the Champions League. We have to make this kind of performance to send our people home happy.

"[Omar]Marmoush did really well in Germany, a player with his quality and pace, I was pleased with the way he scored. Against Orient he missed chances, but today in the final third he was really good.

"[Erling] Haaland has signed a 10 year contract, so I have the feeling about him as captain. I am really happy for him." 

Just waiting for the boss to appear...