Manchester City won’t surrender in English Premier League title race: Pep Guardiola

LONDON – Pep Guardiola insisted Manchester City will keep fighting for the English Premier League title despite blowing a two-goal lead in a damaging 2-2 draw at Tottenham Hotspur on Feb 1.

Guardiola’s side raced ahead in north London thanks to first-half goals from Rayan Cherki and Antoine Semenyo. But City collapsed after the interval.

Dominic Solanke bundled home to reduce the deficit, kicking the back of City defender Marc Guehi’s leg in the act of scoring, but the video assistant referee (VAR) reviewed the incident and the goal was allowed to stand.

City were unable to stem the tide of Tottenham pressure and Solanke produced a sensational scorpion kick equaliser from Conor Gallagher’s cross.

Solanke’s audacious back-flicked goal was a hammer blow to second-placed City, who now trail leaders Arsenal by six points.

Guardiola was left to bemoan Tottenham’s first goal, saying: “If a central defender does it to a striker, it’s a penalty.

“The game was well played and sometimes for long balls and second balls you miss it.

“We would prefer not to have the transition but an emotional issue for the first goal that the referee conceded to Spurs and after that, the momentum is difficult to control.”

Guardiola was booked for his protests and looked in disbelief when the incident was played on big screens inside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

City midfielder Rodri was more scathing, telling Australian broadcaster Stan Sport.: “I know we won too much and the people don’t want us to win but the referee has to be neutral and for me, it’s not fair. At the end, when everything is finished, we are frustrated because it’s so clear the foul. He kicked the leg and of course with the push of the action on the ball, the ball goes in.”

City have won once in their last six league games. But Guardiola is adamant City can catch Arsenal.

“With 14 games to play? As much the chance is there, the hopes will always be there,” he said.

“I know that these types of games always in the past you had to capitalise and win but yeah, the difficulties for many things, but players are coming back and I saw incredibly good spirit and many things.

“We had the injuries, one month ago we had a lot with nine or 10 players out but at the same time we are there and all the calendar is what it is.”

Injury-hit Tottenham’s spirited escape act was a welcome boost for under-fire boss Thomas Frank.

The Dane had faced calls for his sacking in recent weeks, but leading Tottenham into the Champions League last 16 has infused his side with renewed belief.

With 11 players unavailable and Solanke and Archie Gray limping towards the end, Frank hailed the spirit of his depleted group.

“I’m extremely happy that we finally got a point out of a big second half,” he said. “I said it before, this team’s ability to respond to setbacks and show resilience, I think we are growing it bit by bit.

“And we are, by the way, building it with, I don’t know, players dropping left, right and centre to injury.

“I think that shows everything about the team and what they are building. Very proud of the players.”

Elsewhere in the title race, another manager was also left bemoaning the officiating.

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery blasted a VAR intervention to rule out a goal for his side as the 1-0 home defeat by 10-man Brentford on Feb 1 dented their dreams of winning the Premier League title.

Tammy Abraham thought he had levelled on his return to Villa early in the second half, only for a lengthy VAR check to determine whether the ball had gone out of play earlier in the move.

Third-placed Villa were unable to break Brentford down thereafter, even with the Bees playing more than half the game a man down following Kevin Schade’s red card.

They took the lead through Dango Ouattara after Schade kicked out at Matty Cash.

“I accept it. But for me it is not fair,” said Emery. “My explanation is, it is one action after a long time. If the assistant referee did not see it, we must continue playing.

“The problem is the VAR should not be asking in this situation. I accept it but it is not fair. I can’t say anything more about it. It is football and of course Brentford played fantastic with one player less than us.” AFP