Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was extremely critical of his side after their disappointing 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
The Spanish manager said his team gave away two points after they relinquished their two-goal lead to the Eagles, further denting their hopes of defending the Premier League title, which they have won three times consecutively.
“It is not bad luck, it was deserved, we gave away two points,” Guardiola stated during the post-match conference. “When you give away this penalty, you deserve it.
‘You see the chances we created, the chances we conceded, it’s quite similar, except the Chelsea game, all this season. But we are not able to close the game.”
A close-range finish from French forward Jean-Philippe Mateta and a stoppage time penalty from Michael Olise cancelled out two goals from Jack Grealish and City Academy graduate Rico Lewis.
FULL-TIME | Points shared.
???? 2-2 ???? #ManCity | @okx pic.twitter.com/fvPMHZXAVI
— Manchester City (@ManCity) December 16, 2023
Guardiola, who bore a frustrated look, further added that his side were not deserving of victory after conceding such a penalty late in the game.
“The team was really, really good. But at the end, when you give away a penalty to Crystal Palace, this penalty, you don’t deserve it,” he said.
“It’s like the penalty for Chelsea [Cole Palmer’s late equaliser]. We don’t deserve [to win]. The games against Spurs, Liverpool, 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,” the former Barcelona manager added.
City will turn their attention to the Club World Cup, and they will travel to Saudi Arabia on Sunday before facing Urawa Reds on Tuesday at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium.
“Six, seven-hour flight with the result, just three days to recover, three days for a potential final – it is what it is. Now we are down and we lift as quick as possible and go to compete there,” the City boss said.
Guardiola’s side will not play again in the Premier League until December 27, and they currently occupy the fourth spot with 34 points, three points behind league leaders Liverpool, who are on 37 points and play Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday.
