MY ACCOUNT
Pep Guardiola told his Manchester City side to prepare to “fight for every game” after a weekend that saw the Premier League title race blown wide open.
City were beaten 3-2 by Tottenham at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday – Harry Kane scoring a last-gasp winner shortly after Riyad Mahrez had levelled from the penalty spot.
That result followed Liverpool coming from behind to defeat Norwich 3-1, and the Reds can close the gap to leaders City to three points by beating Leeds United in their game in hand on Wednesday.
The top two also have to face off again this term at the Etihad in April and Guardiola acknowledged his side need to accumulate a huge haul to hold off high-flying Liverpool.
“We have to fight for every game and every game we are going to win we will be closer,” Guardiola said.
“I said weeks ago we have to make a lot of points to be champions and this is what we will try to do.
“I think we performed well – honestly. I never said the title race was over. It’s normal. In January and February the teams at the bottom won their games because everyone fights for everything. It will be difficult. We know it.
“But it’s happened. We lost a game. We will recover with training sessions and prepare for the next game.”
City had 71 per cent of possession against Spurs but were never ahead in the game.
“They defended in the 18-yard box and it was so difficult,” Guardiola said.
“They allowed us to go outside and closed all the channels inside, and then after that they could run with their quality but they didn’t run much. It was difficult.
“Every time we played inside we had to then move outside and we arrived there and crossed. But for many reasons we were not there to score.
“The first goal came from the quality they have and the second is difficult to defend and the third was our mistake. We were close to drawing, and maybe winning, but congratulations to Spurs.”
