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
Football: Five games that tipped the scales in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's favour for the United job Related Story Football: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer gives stars 'licence to express', says Dwight Yorke
Obsession with past leaves Solskjær's United stuck in a
May 13, 2019 · Manchester City have retained their title through a manager persuading players to reach into areas of unexplored potential put four past Brighton, they were providing the climax to the run of
Liverpool's great hope is that Manchester City are not only
complacency definition: 1. a feeling of calm satisfaction with your own abilities or situation that prevents you from trying harder: 2. a feeling of calm satisfaction with your own abilities or situation that prevents you from trying harder: .
Driving - No Room for Complacency!
A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on January 14, 2019, with the headline 'Baihakki gets fresh shot at Thai top tier'. Print Edition | Subscribe Topics:
Football: Baihakki gets fresh shot at Thai top tier
Expedia Group Study Reveals 9 in 10 Indian Football Fans Plan Their Holidays Around Sporting Events is the most desirable celeb to join fans travelling to a game
Ravens Travel Guide | What Stadiums Fans Should Visit On The
DRIVEN TO SUCCEED From Poverty To Podium. Driven to Succeed is an incredible story of success from one of the most unlikely places on the planet. The story develops on a First Nation reservation, in northern Canada. The child of a single mom of 4, living on welfare, was forever changed through a simple act of kindness.
How China's Rise Spurs Quest for Homegrown Giants: QuickTake
Football: New FAS technical director Joseph Palatsides confident of rousing 'sleeping giant' Singapore SINGAPORE - The Football Association of Singapore unveiled Joe Palatsides as its new technical director at a press conference at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Thursday (May 2).
New FAS technical director aims to awake 'sleeping giant'
Pep Guardiola saw his Manchester City side beat West Ham to remain one point behind leaders Liverpool, though he expects both title Guardiola expecting twists in Man City-Liverpool title race.
Back on top, Guardiola expects more twists and turns in title
May 31, 2019 · Here are 15 top jobs for a healthy work-life balance in the UK, according to Glassdoor many of the jobs in our ranking can be found in a wide range of industries, For job titles to be
Job Search | Indeed
Football: Watford's Gray strikes to sink Everton, pile pressure on Silva WATFORD, England (REUTERS) - Substitute Andre Gray scored a second-half winner as Watford beat Marco Silva's Everton 1-0 in the Premier League on Saturday (Feb 9) to heap the pressure on their former manager.
Watford's Gray strikes to sink Everton, pile pressure on Silva
Hazard marks milestone with early goal to help Belgium win. 2 Min Read. Soccer Football - Euro 2020 Qualifier - Group I - Cyprus v Belgium - GSP Stadium, Nicosia, Cyprus - March 24, 2019 Belgium's
Hazard marks milestone with early goal to help Belgium win
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen