LONDON • Pep Guardiola's 100th Premier League game had looked to be a mere formality after Sergio Aguero's opener against Newcastle after only 24 seconds - the quickest Premier League goal this season.
However, his players failed to build on their lightning start as Manchester City slumped to a shock 2-1 loss at St James' Park on Tuesday to put their title defence in jeopardy.
Although Guardiola, who is now facing the hardest challenge of his stewardship, insisted post-game the title race was not over as "there are still many games and anything can happen", there seemed to be a hint of resignation with leaders Liverpool in the box seat.
He said: "We had a chance today to reduce the lead. Tomorrow is a game for our opponents. When you are behind, you have to win games and we couldn't do that."
Denying that the English champions had underestimated Newcastle, he added: "We'd never do that and that's the reason why we're still in four competitions. That's why we recorded 100 points last season.
"It's just sometimes, we don't play at the level we want to play and that can happen, that's something I understand completely."
But after admitting "it was not our best night" with their flat and careless display on Tyneside, talk of an unprecedented quadruple will be on the back-burner for now .
The Spaniard said: "I know the challenge is big, being in all competitions is what it is. If you want to go up as a club, you have to accept that challenge. I prefer to be in that position."
THERE IS STILL TIME
A lead of seven points is a lot but we're not in April or May. There are a lot of tough games to play against sides trying to stay in this division, or playing to get into the Europa League or the Champions League.
PEP GUARDIOLA, Man City manager, keeping his chin up despite expecting Liverpool to beat Leicester last night.
It must have come as a real surprise to him after a sluggish City conceded for the first time since Roberto Firmino netted on Jan 3. It was a series of 30 unanswered strikes before Salomon Rondon's and Matt Ritchie's spot kick on Tuesday.
Guardiola added: "We didn't make a good performance. We didn't take the rhythm of the game, it was slow and we weren't aggressive enough.
"The game was not good. We did not defend the second ball well, we have to improve."
Conceding "next week will be tough" - City have to play Arsenal, Everton and Chelsea in seven days - he challenged his side to rise to the occasion as there were "a lot of titles and points to play for".
The 48-year-old also attempted to put a spin on the upset and their tricky run of upcoming fixtures as they "were still in January", and so, there could be plenty more twists and turns in Liverpool's bid to end a 29-year wait to win the league.
He said: "There's a lot of time but of course, when you're behind the leaders, you don't want to drop points and every game is one less.
"A lead of seven points is a lot but we're not in April or May. There are a lot of tough games to play against sides trying to stay in this division, or playing to get into the Europa League or the Champions League.
"In our case, we will do our best to be there and not to give up."
With City's unremitting pressing and cutting interplay curiously absent against Rafa Benitez's men, it meant he also missed out on an outright record of achieving most wins in the league era by any manager in their first 100 games.
Instead, he will now share that landmark with his old rival and former Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho, who won 73 of his first 100 games with Chelsea.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS
City inflict more pain on Man Utd to go back top. On Apr 25, 2019 8,193 5. cardiff city manchester united. Nightmare season finally over for United . english premier league Manchester City.
Man City inflict more pain on Man Utd to go back top - Daily
Singapore starlet Ikhsan Fandi is all set to fulfill his dreams, flying out to Norway for a trial with Raufoss IL, according to The Straits Times. Ikhsan recently stated that his goal for 2019
2019 Garena Young Lions FC season - Wikipedia
Correct way to check, set and adjust your spark plug gap. NGK Spark Plugs USA. Correct way to check, set and adjust your spark plug gap. NGK Spark Plugs - Tech Video - Duration: 3:10
Find the right spark plug and gap for engine | Briggs & Stratton
la liga Barcelona more solid at the back now since start of season, says Gerard Pique Ernesto Valverde's Barca now have a defence too that can step up when the attack stalls.
Barcelona Looking for a Solid Display at Anfield
Karim Benzema stopped Real Madrid's underwhelming La Liga season going from bad to worse on Sunday after firing a last-minute winner to hand the European champions a barely-deserved 3-2 winner over bottom club Huesca. Humbled by Ajax in the Champions League and dumped out of the Copa Del Rey by
Ole rues missed chances - theworldnews.net
Soccer Football - Championship Playoff Final - Aston Villa v Derby County - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - May 27, 2019 Aston Villa's Jack Grealish and John McGinn celebrate winning the playoff
Villa return to Premier League with win over Derby County
GOLTV is a Soccer focused Cable network which serves both the English and Spanish speaking soccer fans in the United States. GolTV USA - Solskjaer aims to replicate spirit of '99 at Manchester United Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hopes to replicate the spirit of Manchester United's treble-winners at Old Trafford as he plots a route back to the top for
There is one massive reason Arsenal got thrashed last night in the Europa League final against Chelsea and that is the manager Unai Emery. Now, I will say straight up I am not calling for him to be sacked or anything like that and I do believe that he needs at least one more season to try and build the team in his image but neither will I make any more excuses for him.
The Straits Times - Breaking News, Lifestyle & Multimedia News
Apr 22, 2019 · Mike Phelan is in line to become Manchester United's new technical director as the club embark on another huge rebuilding job. Phelan, 56, has been working as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's No. 2
Edwin van der Sar is the ideal architect for Manchester
Pochettino loses his cool as Spurs slump, Huddersfield closer to relegation getty, Alex Livesey Mauricio Pochettino launched a furious rant at referee Mike Dean after Tottenham's Premier League title challenge suffered a crushing blow in a controversial 2-1 defeat against Burnley, while Huddersfield were pushed closer to relegation by their 2-0
Pochettino loses his cool as Spurs slump, Huddersfield closer
Football: Solskjaer praises buccaneering Man United players
Chelsea could axe transfer after Maurizio Sarri decision - deal deadline is close Transfer news LIVE: Man Utd 'agreement', Arsenal signing close, Pepe in Liverpool talks Liverpool fans love what Gini Wijnaldum did to Man City's Bernardo Silva in Nations League West Ham new boy Roberto makes huge gaffe in first interview - fans in stitches
Sources: Chelsea won't axe Sarri, Juve to pay - global.espn.com
global.espn.com/football/chelsea/story/3859204/sources-chelsea-wont-axe-sarrijuve-to-pay
Sources have told ESPN FC that while Chelsea are prepared to negotiate a compensation package with any interested club if Sarri makes it clear that he wants to leave, they have no plans to dismiss him even if he fails to win a first piece of major silverware at Arsenal's expense in Baku.
Chelsea backroom staff 'convinced they are set for Stamford
0 comments:
Post a Comment