Manchester City's Egyptian striker #07 Omar Marmoush celebrates after scoring their second goal during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Crystal Palace at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on April 12, 2025. AFP
Since joining the reigning English champions in January in a high-profile 75 million euro transfer from Eintracht Frankfurt, Marmoush is already making his mark in Manchester.
The 26-year-old star scored a goal in Saturday’s 5-2 victory over Crystal Palace, taking his tally to seven goals in 14 matches in different competitions.
“The numbers are really good,” Guardiola told the club’s official website on Sunday.
“He arrived in the middle of the season and in a moment when we are not good. Sometimes, when you come when everything is fluid and everything is fine, it’s easy to adapt. But coming when the team is not playing well is a big credit,” the veteran coach added.
City, which had clinched the English Premier League in the last four successive seasons, are facing an unusual season. They are struggling to finish among the top four and fighting hard for a spot in the UEFA Champions League's new season.
The team currently lie fifth in the league table with 55 points from 32 games, 21 points behind leaders Liverpool.
Despite acknowledging that City is suffering this season, Guardiola is happy with the determination and dangerous impact of Marmoush against Palace after hitting the net once and wasting other certain chances.
“When a team likes to get the ball, he makes runs and understands the intensity you have to play,” the coach explained.
“One goal again, he could have scored easily [more]," he continued.
“Maybe for the first [chance] he was being pulled by the defender, and with the last one for the assist from Kevin, like Macca he could have scored three goals easy; he’s one-on-one in front of the keeper."
“The only way to score and demand to score. And the only way to score and create chances is to play good and today we did it,” he concluded.
In an interview with Sky Sports earlier in April, Marmoush admitted that adapting to life in England has been easier than expected.
“Our targets are to qualify for the Champions League and win the FA Cup. But in a club of this size, it’s always about trophies—trophies, trophies, trophies,” he said, regarding his goals for the season.
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