Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola admits his side should have dropped two points in Saturday's 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace. Pep Guardiola blamed this for their carelessness in conceding a late penalty. The result continues the trend of Manchester City conceding late in recent games against top teams.
Pep Guardiola highlighted the penalty decision, saying City could not effectively hold on to the game. He referred to previous matches against Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham, where they also struggled to stay on top. The head coach denied claims that the team was relaxed, instead pointing to a lack of motivation up front as one of the reasons why they failed to secure the win.
Despite the disappointing result, Manchester City will now need to quickly regroup and prepare for the upcoming World Club Cup semi-final against Urawa Red Diamonds. Pep Guardiola acknowledged that a victory before the seven-hour flight to Saudi Arabia was ideal, but he stressed the need to boost morale and competitiveness. Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson praised his team's performance, especially given the absence of nine experienced players. He emphasised that the players' commitment to the game plan has caused more trouble for City than they are Xi. Hodgson emphasised the team's belief that they are capable of competing against stronger opponents and making the game more interesting.