Zabaleta relieved as Manchester City end 'strange' run
Pablo Zabaleta scored in the Premier League for the first time since 2014 as Manchester City got back on track against Watford.
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QZWybpeWiW4jeLDHUocQDQ.jpg)
Pablo Zabaleta was relieved to see Manchester CIty return to form with a 2-0 victory over Watford.
The defender scored his first Premier League goal for more than two years in the first half on Wednesday and David Silva sealed victory late on.
City's first win in three league games keeps them in fourth place and within seven points of leaders Chelsea ahead of Sunday's crunch clash at home to title rivals Arsenal.
It was also their first home win in the league since September, with Zabaleta glad to give the Etihad Stadium support a victory after four top-flight matches without one.
"It has been a long time without a win playing at home - it has been strange," he said.
"It was not the prettiest game but we had determination to win the game. We had the clean sheet we have been talking about and were solid defensively.
"We were really good at the back and we took our chances. We deserved to win."
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
Zabaleta's goal saw him impressively volley home Kevin De Bruyne's cross after 33 minutes.
He added: "As a full-back you go into a game thinking you have to defend but when you have the chance to go forward especially at the far post and attack the space, it is good.
"It was a great cross from Kevin De Bruyne and a good finish for a full-back!"
Zabaleta's last Premier League goal had come in a 4-1 win at Sunderland in December 2014.
![LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 5: Arne Slot Manager of Liverpool congratulates Mohamed Salah of Liverpool after the 4-0 victory during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Anfield on November 5, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/q3ie7X2vDDiU7X6C9HVRK7-840-80.jpg)
‘The pure simplicity of the way Slot has managed the squad is probably the biggest thing I could say about him. It’s not broken, so let’s get on with it’: Liverpool legend full of admiration for Jurgen Klopp's successor at Anfield
![CARDIFF, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 02: Wales captain Ryan Giggs shakes the hand of manager John Toshack after being substituted on his last International appearance for his country during the Euro 2008 Group D Qualifying Match between Wales and Czech Republic at the Millennium Stadium on June 2, 2007 in Cardiff, Wales. Photo by (Stu Forster/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ooQ9oNmgvfUUG8TBUhn6BK-840-80.jpg)
‘I trained at Spurs and thought they’d give me a chance. But I received a letter thanking me but saying they didn’t think I was good enough – I was gutted’: How Tottenham missed out on signing Wales legend John Toshack