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Pep Guardiola in disbelief during the PL match vs Crystal Palace (Credit: Twitter)
The draw left the treble winners fourth in the crowded title fight on 34 points, but City have played one more game than the three teams above them: Liverpool, Arsenal and Aston Villa
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola blasted his team after their careless defending and a needless late-game penalty cost them a much-needed victory in a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace on Saturday, saying they deserved the result.
“It’s not bad luck, it’s deserved,” an angry Guardiola told reporters after the game. “We give away two points. When you give away this penalty, you deserve it. You see the chances we created and conceded, it’s quite similar to all this season – but we are not able to close the games. That is the feeling.”
City have looked uncharacteristically vulnerable after a run of six games with only one win.
Manchester City have failed to win in three consecutive Premier League home games for the first time since Pep Guardiola’s first season in charge in December 2016.Liverpool, Tottenham and now Crystal Palace all leave the Etihad with a point. pic.twitter.com/SRu5S4Or9F
— Squawka (@Squawka) December 16, 2023
Jack Grealish and Rico Lewis scored in the first half at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, but Jean-Philippe Mateta pulled one back for Palace and then Michael Olise converted a penalty in the 95th minute after Phil Foden fouled Mateta in the box.
The draw left the treble winners fourth in the crowded title fight on 34 points, but City have played one more game than the three teams above them: Liverpool, who are top on 37 points, Arsenal and Aston Villa, who all play on Sunday.
“At the end, be patient and don’t concede transitions and don’t concede,” Guardiola said of the disappointing result.
“But of course in the first action (Palace) run and score a goal and in the last minute we give them (a penalty). In the 18-yard box you have to be careful and we weren’t. We don’t deserve to win.”
“We’re very disappointed with the result.”Goalscorer Rico Lewis gives his thoughts following the match with Crystal Palace this afternoon ️ pic.twitter.com/kOFqUcEiHj
— Manchester City (@ManCity) December 16, 2023
City have dropped nine points this season by conceding goals after the 80th minute.
Adding to the team’s misery is the absence of league-leading scorer Erling Haaland, who has been sidelined for two consecutive Premier League games with a stress reaction in his foot, which could develop into a more serious stress fracture.
The 23-year-old striker has 14 league goals this season.
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – Reuters)
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