Manchester City’s manager Pep Guardiola insists the team’s recent inability to secure victories, highlighted by their latest 2-2 deadlock against Crystal Palace, isn’t a matter of bad luck. In this match, City squandered a two-goal lead in the final 15 minutes, with Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta and Michael Olise (scoring a last-minute penalty) orchestrating a surprising turnaround.
This marks the fourth occasion in six Premier League games where Manchester City has let a lead slip away, leaving them trailing three points behind the front-runners Liverpool, who also have a game in reserve.
Guardiola frankly admits, “It’s not about bad luck; we got what we deserved. When you concede a penalty, it’s on you.”
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Despite Erling Haaland’s absence due to injury, City dominated with 19 shot attempts versus Palace’s five, both of which found the back of the net.
Guardiola dismisses any notion of his team slowing down, emphasizing their continuous offensive effort even after securing a 2-0 lead early in the second half.
“We played superbly against Tottenham [in a 3-3 draw] and Liverpool [1-1 tie], but we couldn’t clinch a win,” he reflects. “Our chance creation was significantly higher than what we conceded, barring the Chelsea match [which ended 4-4], and this has been a recurring theme this season – yet we fail to finalize the game.”
Guardiola praised his team’s performance, pointing out the minimal opportunities allowed until Palace’s initial goal. “The team played brilliantly. We virtually conceded nothing until their first goal. Apart from an early chance due to a slip by our players, Palace was largely ineffective until then.”
However, he concedes that their inability to prevent a late penalty mirrored their previous encounter with Chelsea – a game they didn’t deserve to win.
Guardiola emphasizes the need for patience and caution against counterattacks, which have been a focus during his tenure. “We’ve managed well in such games for years, but now, we make mistakes in crucial moments, like conceding early goals or penalties in our box. We need to be more cautious.”
This season, City’s 34-point haul from 17 matches is their lowest under Guardiola since he took over in 2016. This is also the first instance of them being outside the top three at this stage of the season with Guardiola in charge.
Their position could further weaken, as they travel to Saudi Arabia for the Fifa Club World Cup, facing Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds in the semi-finals. Meanwhile, Liverpool could extend their lead to 12 points if they win their next three matches, by the time City resumes Premier League action against Everton on December 27, though City will have two games in hand.
“A victory would have made the long flight to the Middle East easier,” admits Guardiola. “We have limited recovery time, and then a potential final. We need to regroup and prepare for the competition.”
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Manchester City Crystal Palace Draw
Why did Pep Guardiola say Manchester City’s draw was not due to bad luck?
Guardiola emphasized that the team’s inability to win was not because of bad luck but due to their own actions, particularly citing the late penalty they conceded as a deserving factor for the draw.
What was the score in Manchester City’s match against Crystal Palace?
The match between Manchester City and Crystal Palace ended in a 2-2 draw, with City losing their lead in the last 15 minutes of the game.
How did Manchester City perform in terms of shots compared to Crystal Palace?
Manchester City dominated in terms of shots, having 19 attempts compared to Crystal Palace’s five, but both of Palace’s shots on target resulted in goals.
Has Manchester City’s performance under Guardiola been lower this season compared to previous years?
Yes, with 34 points from their first 17 games, this season marks Manchester City’s lowest point tally under Guardiola since he took charge in 2016. It’s also the first time they’ve been outside the top three at this stage of the season with him as manager.
What are Manchester City’s next steps in the FIFA Club World Cup?
Manchester City is set to travel to Saudi Arabia for the FIFA Club World Cup, where they will face Urawa Red Diamonds in the semi-finals.
More about Manchester City Crystal Palace Draw
- Manchester City Official Website
- Premier League Official Standings
- FIFA Club World Cup Information
- Crystal Palace FC News
- Pep Guardiola Managerial Profile
- Erling Haaland Player Statistics
- Liverpool FC News and Updates
4 comments
lol, Guardiola always has an excuse ready, doesn’t he? city’s just not up to it this season, seems like liverpool’s gonna take it all this year…
Cmon city! we can’t be dropping points like this, especially against teams like palace no offense but we’re better than this, where’s the fighting spirit guys?
As a Palace fan, this draw felt like a win! Mateta and Olise were on fire, City got a taste of their own medicine this time haha
Did anyone else notice Haaland’s absence really affecting City’s play? they lacked that finishing edge for sure. Guardiola’s tactics need a serious rethink imo.