Man City’s Champions League hopes boosted by 2-0 EPL victory over Everton
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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola gestures on the touchline during the Premier League match against Everton at Goodison Park.
PHOTO: AFP
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LONDON – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola had said that being forced to watch the Champions League latter stages from his sofa, instead of the touchline, is providing motivation to qualify for the competition next season.
On April 19, his side clinched a 2-0 English Premier League victory at Everton, moving into the top four for now and boosting their hopes of achieving the Spaniard’s aims.
The result meant that City, with 58 points, have climbed above Nottingham Forest (57) who travel to Tottenham Hotspur on April 21.
“We had to work hard,” said City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan on BBC Radio 5 Live. “This ground is always tough to come and play at with the way they approach the game.
“We had to be careful, maybe at the beginning we didn’t want to risk it too much.
“We came out in the second half to perform and we have done that in a brilliant way. Definitely deserved to get the three points.”
City bowed out of the Champions League after losing to Real Madrid in the play-off round in February, failing to reach the round of 16 for the first time since the 2012-13 season.
It was also the first time in Guardiola’s managerial career that he failed to reach the last 16.
But he has enjoyed the spectacle this week as Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona and Inter Milan booked their places in the last four.
With his team’s latest result, he will hope to build on the victory for the remaining five matches to book a spot in Europe’s elite club competition next season.
Against Everton at Goodison Park, City started with some patient build-up play as they looked to unlock the Toffees’ defence – led by Kevin de Bruyne picking up the ball in pockets of spaces in the final third.
The first big moment came in the 14th minute when Savinho went down in the box but no penalty was given, leaving Guardiola furious and he made sure his feelings were known to the fourth official.
Two minutes later, Matheus Nunes’ swerving shot from long range looked set to hit the bottom right corner, before Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford punched it away.
City dominated with 67 per cent possession midway through the first half, playing their short passes and subduing the home crowd but with nothing to show amid the flat atmosphere.
Everton did not sit back, however. Against the run of play, James Tarkowski rose high in the 31st minute to connect with a corner kick but his bullet header rattled the post instead of the net.
Everton’s James Tarkowski hit the post with his header.
PHOTO: AFP
De Bruyne, who is in his final season as a City player, then got to a rebound just before half-time but his attempt was blocked for a corner.
David Moyes’ men continued what they were doing and another opportunity came just past the hour mark.
Abdoulaye Doucoure went on a mazy run through the City defence and got within shooting range inside the box, but his effort to the left post was thwarted by Stefan Ortega.
City were lacking firepower. In the 71st minute, Gundogan latched onto a pass on the edge of the box, but the German’s tame shot did not trouble Pickford.
Shortly after, the Everton goalkeeper made a save from Savinho’s low drive.
City’s opener finally came late in the 84th minute, when Nunes played a cross to Nico O’Reilly who found space inside the area to put the ball into the back of the net.
Manchester City’s Nico O’Reilly scores their first goal past Everton’s Jordan Pickford.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Mateo Kovacic then made sure of the three points in stoppage time when he fired a first-time shot from the edge of the penalty area into the bottom left corner, assisted by Gundogan.
Guardiola was a relieved man at the end of the match with the two late goals, but he knows there is much room for improvement after their latest unconvincing performance. AFP
