Defending Champions Slip Up at Home, Leaving Pep Guardiola Frustrated After Late Palace Comeback
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola expressed disappointment as his team conceded a late comeback, settling for a 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace at the Etihad. Guardiola admitted that his side “gave away two points” and acknowledged they were “punished” for their “mistakes” in a match that saw the defending champions squander a 2-0 lead.
Despite Manchester City’s triumphant campaign as Treble winners in the 2022/23 season, they have faced a sluggish start in the current campaign. Guardiola’s squad returned to winning ways in the Premier League last weekend against Luton after a winless streak in four outings.
In Saturday’s encounter, Jack Grealish and Rico Lewis helped Man City secure a 2-0 lead by the 54th minute. However, Crystal Palace, known as one of the champions’ bogey teams, mounted a late resurgence. Jean-Philippe Mateta narrowed the gap with a goal 15 minutes before the final whistle, and Michael Olise sealed the comeback by converting a penalty deep into stoppage time.
The 2-2 draw leaves Manchester City in fourth place in the Premier League, with a potential six-point gap behind leaders Liverpool, depending on the outcome of Jurgen Klopp’s team against Manchester United on Sunday.
Post-match, Guardiola spoke to BBC Radio 5 Live, saying, “We give away two points for our mistake, and what can I say? We do everything and a team that defends in the box like so, so deep. They arrive and we are punished, but we have to be more calm and composed in that position. It is not the first time, but it is what it is. Move forward, learn, and [go to the] next one.”
Meanwhile, Palace manager Roy Hodgson credited his team’s resilience, suggesting they benefitted from “having a go” after Mateta’s goal “changed things.” Hodgson emphasized the importance of patience against a formidable opponent like Manchester City and praised his players for executing a well-timed comeback strategy.
The draw leaves both teams with contrasting emotions, as Manchester City aims to regroup and learn from their mistakes, while Crystal Palace revels in a hard-fought point against the defending champions.
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