Pep Guardiola has said that he is unhappy with his team’s performance against Crystal Palace and that they can’t win the Premier League title if they play like they did against the London-based club. The Citizens took the lead thanks to a Yaya Toure goal in the 39th minute but failed to get a grip on the game and allowed Connor Wickham to equalise midway through the second half.
Yaya Toure did justice to his inclusion into the first team by scoring again late in the game to ensure his side walked away with all the three points.
But their manager, Pep Guardiola, was not impressed with the way the team played the game. “I want to be honest with you — we cannot win the title if we play the way we did today,” he said.
“The players know that because they have played really, really good [in other games] and they know that if we play that way we can achieve our targets.
“We cannot forget that a few weeks ago we beat the best team in Europe (Barcelona) but there are games during the season like today, after the international break, where you are not brilliant. Today we were not brilliant.
“I know that, but also to achieve the titles you have to win the games when you play in that way.”
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Despite his calls for improvement, his side sit third in the Premier League, only a point behind leaders Chelsea. With only three wins in their last ten games, Pep admits the win was a welcome one and credited the team for pulling their socks up and ensuring they walked away with all three points.
“Today, maybe, was a good step, but in the long-term, you have to play better,” he added.
“Sometimes it can happen once but when it happens often at the end you are going to lose.
“I am more satisfied when we play against Middlesbrough for example, against Everton, even Tottenham in the second half, than today, but you have to win. Huge compliment to the team because you have to win these kind of games and they did it.”
Pep’s side now have two away games followed by two home games across the UEFA Champions League and the Premier League. They begin the run by travelling to take on German giants Borussia Monchengladbach before travelling to face Sean Dyche’s Burnley side in the Premier League.
The following home game against Chelsea in the Premier League is bound to be a tasty one and likely to play a role in the title race.
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