‘Not bad luck’ as seething Pep Guardiola says Manchester City deserved draw after careless play

LONDON – An irate Pep Guardiola slammed his sloppy Manchester City after their English Premier League title defence suffered another blow as Crystal Palace recovered from two goals down to rescue

a 2-2 draw thanks to Michael Olise’s last-gasp penalty.

The Spaniard’s side were in command when Jack Grealish put them ahead in the first half and Rico Lewis doubled the lead after the break on Dec 16.

But the champions stumbled in the second half at the Etihad Stadium, as Jean-Philippe Mateta reduced the deficit in the closing stages before Olise converted his penalty in the fifth minute of stoppage time.

City have won just once in six league games, having also drawn with Chelsea (4-4), Liverpool (1-1) and Tottenham Hotspur (3-3) and lost to Aston Villa 1-0 before the 2-1 victory at Luton Town.

Their latest result keeps them fourth in the table on 34 points.

“The games against Spurs, Liverpool, and today were excellent, but we were not able to win the game. What has happened is because we are not consistent enough to close the games, and many reasons,” Guardiola said.

“At the end, be patient and don’t concede transitions and don’t concede.

“But of course in the first action (Palace) run and score a goal and in the last minute we give them (a penalty). In the 18-yard box you have to be careful and we weren’t. We don’t deserve to win.”

City have dropped nine points this season by conceding goals after the 80th minute.

Their bid for an unprecedented fourth successive title is in danger, although Guardiola will remind his players that they came from eight points behind Arsenal to snatch the crown late last season.

“It is not bad luck, it was deserved, we gave away two points. When you give this penalty, you deserve it,” he added.

“You see the chances we created, it’s quite similar, for all except the Chelsea game, all this season. But we are not able to close the game.”

Once again without the injured Erling Haaland, City dominated the opening stages.

Their breakthrough came in the 24th minute when Phil Foden fed Grealish, and he slotted past Dean Henderson for his third goal in as many league games – the effort standing after a lengthy video assistant referee (VAR) check for offside.

City had their second in the 54th minute as Grealish’s pass ricocheted off Rodri and the ball fell to Lewis for a close-range finish, the 19-year-old’s first Premier League goal being confirmed yet after another VAR review.

But Palace pulled a goal back in the 76th minute when a long ball found Jeffrey Schlupp and he supplied Mateta, who slid home to start the nerves jangling in Guardiola’s team.

Deep into stoppage time, City fans’ fears were realised as Foden caught Mateta in the box, referee Paul Tierney pointed to the spot, and Olise calmly dispatched the ball past Ederson.

There will be more headache for Guardiola as Haaland has been sidelined for two consecutive Premier League games with a stress reaction in his foot, which could develop into a more serious stress fracture. The 23-year-old Norwegian striker has a league-leading 14 goals this season.

City next face Japanese side Urawa Red Diamonds in the Club World Cup semi-finals on Dec 19, with the final taking place three days later.

“Six, seven-hour flight with the result, just three days to recover, three days for a potential final. It is what it is,” Guardiola said. “Now we are down and we lift as quick as possible and go to compete there.”

Palace boss Roy Hodgson, meanwhile, said that he was pleased with his team, adding: “The way that the players stuck to a game plan and tried to make it work, and cause City a few more problems than they are sometimes used to.

“It wasn’t just a question of resilience – it was a question of spirit and determination as well.” AFP, REUTERS