Pep Guardiola insisted that Manchester City were edging closer to their best after thumping Ipswich Town 6-0 at Portman Road on Sunday. 

Phil Foden starred for City, notching two goals and an assist in the first half, with Mateo Kovacic, Jeremy Doku, Erling Haaland and substitute James McAtee also on target. 

The result saw the Citizens jump from eighth to fourth in the Premier League, having started 2025 with three wins in four games across all competitions. 

City have now emerged victorious in 21 of their last 22 Premier League games against newly promoted sides (D1) since a 1-2 loss to Leeds at the Etihad Stadium in April 2021.

Indeed, City have won their last 12 against newly promoted teams by an aggregate scoreline of 36-7, though Guardiola believes their latest triumph was harder than it looked. 

"We are really pleased, we are back to doing things that defined this team for the last 10 years," Guardiola told Sky Sports. 

"Really pleased about the three points and to climb into qualification for the Champions League for next season. That will be so tough.

"Much better. Maybe not our best, but closer with the consistency we have in our game. Most of them didn't happen in the previous games that we won.

"Without the way we went without the ball, you cannot play in the short spaces. Everyone with the ball was clever, quicker, faster. Everyone is related.

"You cannot be quick, wise and good if you are not connected defensively.

"Ipswich beat Chelsea here, they beat Spurs away. They are a good team and Liam [Delap] is a fantastic striker. The players saw what we were and that is the best thing."

Kieran McKenna, meanwhile, watched on as Ipswich conceded six goals in a game (all competitions) for the first time since November 2012 (a 6-0 loss at Leicester City in the Championship), doing so at Portman Road for the first time since February 2002 (a 6-0 loss to Liverpool in the Premier League).

In what is their sixth Premier League campaign, 2024-25 is just the second season in which Ipswich have lost home and away to the reigning champions, also doing so against Manchester United in 2001-02.

The Tractors Boys remain in the bottom three, with their goal difference now down to -23. Only Leicester (-25) and Southampton (-35) are worse off. 

McKenna, however, believes that despite their slow start to the season, his side can compete with the division's very best until May. 

"Our opponents were much better than us," McKenna said. "I thought there were lots of positives in the early parts of the game. We could have had the first goal.

"We were a little bit open on the transitions with Haaland. Their quality took it away from us, and we were punished by a top opponent.

"I don't think it's familiarity with the Premier League. We faced one of the best teams in the world, and we have to keep striving to improve.

"We know the jump and climb we've made. We're going to have some difficult days this year. If we don't accept it, we'll look at where we can do better, all of us.

"There were bits that were good and some that weren't. It's Liverpool away next week, and we'll have to show a lot of humility and keep pushing for more.

"You never know because we've had wins against Chelsea and Tottenham, so you never know when your wins are going to come. We need to compete for every game.

"We need to compete at our best every game, and we didn't manage that today.

"We believe that we can compete right to the end of the season. We have 10 results so far.

"We haven't won as many as we'd like. I trust in the group to keep working and find the right response to this game and find a better performance next week."