Following another setback to their Premier League championship defense, Pep Guardiola blasted a lethargic Manchester City after Crystal Palace rallied from two goals behind to salvage a 2-2 draw on Saturday because to a last-minute penalty kick by Michael Olise.
Jack Grealish gave Guardiola’s team the lead in the first half, and Rico Lewis doubled it in the second half to put them ahead.
However, at the Etihad Stadium, the champions faltered in the second half as Jean-Philippe Maetta cut the lead in the final minutes, and Olise scored his penalty in the fifth minute of stoppage time.
Prior to last Sunday’s 2-1 triumph at Luton, City had lost to Aston Villa, drawn with Chelsea, Liverpool, and Tottenham, and only won once in their previous six league games.
The outcome of their final game before leaving for the Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia puts them in fourth place in the standings, three points behind leaders Liverpool, who will play Manchester United on Sunday.
“Today’s games against Spurs and Liverpool were fantastic, but we were not able to win. For a variety of reasons, we haven’t been consistent enough to win games,” Guardiola stated.
We weren’t careful, and you have to be careful with an 18-yard box. We are not worthy of victory.”
Guardiola will remind his players that after falling eight points behind Arsenal to win the title late in the previous campaign, City is still in the running for an unprecedented fourth consecutive triumph.
“It was deserved,” “We gave up two points, so it’s not bad luck,” “You deserve it when you give this penalty,” Guardiola remarked.
“With the exception of the Chelsea game, you can see how similar the opportunities we have generated and given up have been all season. However, we are unable to end the game.”
The Club World Cup semi-finals between City and Urawa Red Diamonds, a Japanese team, are scheduled for Tuesday. The final is scheduled for Friday.
“After a six-and-seven-hour flight, there were only three days left for recovery and a possible final. Guardiola stated, “It is what it is.”
“Now we are down,very and we lift as quick as possible and go to compete there.”
Without the injured Erling Haaland, City dominated the first few minutes and Dean Henderson of Palace did a good job of tipping in a header from Julian Alvarez in the fifth minute.
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