Pep Guardiola was visibly frustrated after Manchester City’s 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday.
Also Read: Mikel Arteta Praises Former Teammate Alex Iwobi Ahead of Arsenal vs Fulham Showdown
The match ended with City dropping crucial points as they trail Premier League leaders Liverpool by eight points, though Liverpool still have a game in hand after their Merseyside derby against Everton was postponed.
Set-Pieces a Major Weakness for City
Despite Manchester City’s resilience to recover from two Palace leads with goals from Erling Haaland and Rico Lewis, Guardiola didn’t hold back in his post-match comments.
He slammed his team’s set-piece defending, calling City the “worst” team in the Premier League when it comes to defending against such situations.
“We scored two fantastic goals, but right now every team is stronger than us in set-pieces,” Guardiola admitted. “Football is a game of mistakes, and we try to minimize ours, but we have to improve.”
His frustration was compounded by an official decision that saw Lewis sent off in the final minutes, adding to the pressure.
Title Race Still Unclear for City
Guardiola remained cautious about City’s title prospects, despite their positive results against Nottingham Forest and the draw with Palace. “We lost four games in a row, now we draw.
We can’t talk about the title right now,” he said. “We just have to take it step by step and focus on winning the next game.”
Guardiola added that his team is still working on consistency but praised the players for their effort, especially in a challenging match at Selhurst Park.
Looking Ahead with Determination
Guardiola acknowledged the difficulties his team is facing with injuries and squad challenges but expressed his satisfaction with the players’ fight and commitment.
“I’m really pleased with them,” he said, emphasizing that, while consistency is a challenge, they will continue to focus on recovering and improving their form.
