PEP LIVID AS CITY 'CAN'T CLOSE GAMES'
The Straits Times|December 18, 2023
He admits they don’t deserve to win as title challenge falters after draw with Palace
PEP LIVID AS CITY 'CAN'T CLOSE GAMES'

LONDON An irate Pep Guardiola slammed his sloppy Manchester City after their English Premier League title defence suffered another blow as Crystal Palace recovered from two goals down to rescue a 2-2 draw thanks to Michael Olise's last-gasp penalty.

The Spaniard's side were in command when Jack Grealish put them ahead in the first half and Rico Lewis doubled the lead after the break on Dec 16.

But the champions stumbled in the second half at the Etihad Stadium, as Jean-Philippe Mateta reduced the deficit in the closing stages before Olise converted his penalty in the fifth minute of stoppage time.

City have won just once in six league games, having also drawn with Chelsea (4-4), Liverpool (1-1) and Tottenham Hotspur (3-3) and lost to Aston Villa 1-0 before the 2-1 victory at Luton Town.

Their latest result keeps them fourth in the table on 34 points.

"The games against Spurs, Liverpool, and today were excellent, but we were not able to win the game.

What has happened is because we are not consistent enough to close the games, and many reasons," Guardiola said.

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