Pep Guardiola marked his 500th game as Manchester City manager with a 2-0 win over Leicester City, breaking a frustrating five-game winless run. Despite the relief, Guardiola admitted his side has “no chance” of catching Liverpool in the Premier League title race.
City remains in seventh place, trailing league leaders Liverpool by 14 points. Liverpool also has a game in hand, making their lead even more daunting. Guardiola, who has guided City to four consecutive Premier League titles, believes the gap is insurmountable.
“We are far away from winning the Premier League. We accept there’s already no chance of that, but we have other things to fight for,” Guardiola said after the game.
QUOTES:
The victory over Leicester was hard-fought. Savinho opened the scoring in the 21st minute, and Erling Haaland sealed the win with a 74th-minute header. However, City struggled to dominate, and Leicester had several chances to equalize before Haaland’s goal provided breathing room.
Guardiola acknowledged the challenges: “Just relief—that is the word to express how all of us feel. It was not the ideal performance, but hopefully, the victories will give our mood a better position. Hopefully, in the new year, we can bounce back a bit from a bad moment.”
Reflecting on his milestone, Guardiola said, “The players have given me a good present today, celebrating 500 games like this.”
RECALL:
The victory was just City’s second in their last 14 matches, a surprising slump for a team used to dominating the league. This run of form has been Guardiola’s most challenging period since taking charge in 2016. Injuries, defensive errors, and a lack of clinical finishing have hampered their progress this season.
Even with the win, City fans were reminded how far the team has fallen from its usual standards. Guardiola will now focus on steadying the ship and targeting success in other competitions.
CITATIONS:
Guardiola’s comments were made during his post-match interview at King Power Stadium. Statistics and standings were sourced from the Premier League’s official website.
KEEP IN MIND:
Manchester City may be out of the title race, but the team has bounced back from setbacks before. With Guardiola’s experience and a squad full of talent, there’s still hope for success in cup competitions and a top-four finish. For City fans, the journey is far from over.
