Pep Guardiola acknowledges that Manchester City deserved to lose points in their recent match against Crystal Palace, which ended in a late draw.

Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, appeared disappointed after his team’s 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England. Guardiola acknowledged that his team did not deserve to win all three points in the Premier League match. Despite being the reigning champions, City had a comfortable 2-0 lead against a struggling Palace side. However, the Eagles made a surprising comeback, with Jean-Philippe Mateta scoring a goal and Michael Olise converting a penalty in injury time. Jack Grealish initiated the scoring by using the side of his foot to make an attempt, accomplishing this in the 24th minute. Prior to this, City had encountered difficulties in penetrating Palace’s determined defensive line, which was organized in a 5-4-1 setup. Subsequently, Rico Lewis increased City’s advantage by executing a half-volley from a close distance after the interval.

However, it was Jeffrey Schlupp’s exceptional performance on the left side that created the opportunity for Mateta to score Palace’s initial goal, sparking their unexpected comeback. City’s Phil Foden, who played a crucial role in the first goal, turned into the antagonist by fouling Mateta, leading to the penalty that Olise successfully converted, earning Palace a point.

In his post-match comments, Guardiola expressed his annoyance, affirming that the outcome was not a result of bad luck but rather deserved, as they had let go of two points. He pointed out the similarity between the chances created and conceded throughout the season, except for the Chelsea game, but lamented their inability to seal the victory. Guardiola emphasized that the team’s inability to consistently finish games strongly is a significant problem. Although they have displayed commendable performances against formidable opponents like Spurs and Liverpool, City has encountered difficulties in securing triumphs. As a consequence, City currently occupies the fourth position in the Premier League standings, having achieved only one victory in their previous six matches.

The conclusion of the match was met with disapproval from the home fans, as audible boos echoed throughout the stadium, indicating their dissatisfaction. Guardiola will now redirect his attention towards the imminent Club World Cup held in Saudi Arabia, an event that will be televised live on TNT Sports.