Pep Guardiola has given his reaction after Manchester City ended an ‘exceptional’ Premier League season with defeat at Brentford.
Guardiola’s side saw their 25-game unbeaten run ended on the Premier League’s final weekend, as Ethan Pinnock’s goal gave Brentford – who beat City at the Etihad earlier in the season – a 1-0 win in west London.
Guardiola was pleased with the performance of his side despite defeat and congratulated Brentford, who have impressed this season and narrowly missed out on a place in Europe.
“We’ve finished an exceptional Premier league [campaign]. The players did well against a top side, a fantastic team,” Guardiola told BBC’s MOTD.
“It was difficult against such a good side, but congratulations to Brentford on the victory.”
City made several changes to the side as Guardiola looks to rotate his options ahead of the club’s upcoming finals, with the treble-chasing Citizens set to face Manchester United in the FA Cup final on June 3 and Inter Milan in the Champions League final the following weekend.
On the decision to make seven changes, Guardiola said: “It wasn’t easy, but it was important to me that we didn’t [lose] what we are – that didn’t happen.”
City’s defeat was their first in all competitions since losing to Tottenham in February, but Guardiola does not think the end of their unbeaten run will damage his side’s confidence ahead of their upcoming finals.
“I don’t think so.”
