LONDON – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola praised the intensity of his newly crowned English Premier League football champions following a 1-1 draw at Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday, despite admitting to some booze-fuelled celebrations a little over 48 hours before.
For the first time since February, City dropped points as a stunning goal by Brighton’s Paraguayan teenager Julio Enciso snapped their 12-game winning run in the league.
Erling Haaland, who set up Phil Foden’s opener, had a late goal disallowed, resulting in a yellow card for a protesting Guardiola who simply hates not winning.
City have one more league game left – at Brentford on Sunday – before an FA Cup final against Manchester United and then a Champions League final against Inter Milan.
Victories in both will see City match United’s treble, so Guardiola’s side might have been excused for taking their foot off the gas, having won a fifth league title in six seasons at the weekend.
That they did not win, however, was more to do with an excellent Brighton side who sealed a Europa League spot.
“Exceptional game. Congratulations to Brighton for their deserved qualification to the Europa League,” Guardiola said.
“The game we played, 48 hours after we drank all the alcohol in Manchester; 48 hours later, we behaved and we showed why we were the champions against that team.
“We showed what we have done with and without the ball. I didn’t see one drop in our intensity and idea. They had chances, we had chances, we scored a goal, they scored a goal.
“Both teams want the ball, both teams want to press. The quality (Brighton) have, they are an exceptional team.”
Guardiola shared some jokes during the game with Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi and warmly congratulated the home players.
But he was angry that Haaland’s goal was disallowed for shirt-pulling.
“Watch it. Watch it, if it’s a fault, every action for Erling is a fault,” he said of his 52-goal striker.
Guardiola also said his side cannot afford to lose any momentum as they seek to make history.
“I didn’t see it (losing momentum), I didn’t see it today. But during the week, we have to rest, recover mentally,” he said.
“It’s been demanding for the past six months playing Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, chasing Arsenal. The training now is just relaxed.”
There were also minor injury concerns for City before their two Cup finals in June as Phil Foden, John Stones and Bernardo Silva were not moving freely as they were replaced in the second half.
“We have to be careful for the players to arrive to the finals as best as possible,” added Guardiola.
Brighton’s point means they are guaranteed to finish sixth in the table and they can make plans for the Europa League, the club’s first European venture.
“It was very tough,” de Zerbi said. “We knew to play against Man City is always tough. We played very well, we deserved to make our point – and we deserve to play in the Europa League.
“When the situation was difficult, we didn’t lose our style. To press City man to man on every side of the pitch, I think that is courage.
“I’m lucky because I found a fantastic group of players. I’m a good coach but without the players... When I have to analyse something in football, I always start with the players.”
Goalkeeper Jason Steele added: “What an achievement, what a club, what a group of guys.
“The togetherness, the culture and we are driven in by a top, top manager. Special times.”
REUTERS, AFP
