Guardiola won't make excuses for tired Rodri

HAVING already fallen behind, City were living dangerously at Selhurst Park.

- JOE BRAY

Kevin de Bruyne's wonderful equaliser ensured parity but the Blues were ropey at the back and Crystal Palace sensed an opportunity.

They had already hit the bar on the break through Jordan Ayew and when City couldn't clear another attack, Rodri stepped in to seemingly restore some calm. Except he did exactly the opposite.

In passing back to goalkeeper Stefan Ortega, Rodri hadn't seen goalscorer Jean-Philippe Mateta directly in front of the German. Ortega had to act quickly, pulling off a smart Cruyff turn in front of his own goal to avert a calamitous second for the hosts. It was footwork that Ederson, on the bench, would have been proud of.

Pep Guardiola admitted his side were not as 'solid' in defence as they usually are, putting that down to the mental toll of playing twice in two-and-a-half days.

He warned that such a schedule will make things extremely difficult to retain their Treble rating the likelihood at 'almost, almost no chance!