Pep Guardiola admitted Manchester City “didn’t deserve to win” after letting a two-goal lead slip against Crystal Palace at the Etihad on Saturday.
The Premier League champions were cruising to victory after goals from Jack Grealish and Rico Lewis put them ahead, but Jean-Philippe Mateta pegged one back with 14 minutes left on the clock.
It made for a nervy end to the game for the hosts, who gave Roy Hodgson’s side the opportunity to equalise deep into added time when Phil Foden caught Mateta in the box. Michael Olise converted the subsequent penalty.
Man City have now dropped nine points by conceding goals after the 80th minute in the Premier League, something Guardiola wants his players to cut out.
“At the end, be patient and don’t concede transitions and don’t concede like we have done in seven or eight years in these type of games,” he said in his post-match press conference.
“But of course in the first action they run and score a goal and in the last minute we give them [a penalty]. In the 18-yard box you have to be careful and we weren’t. We don’t deserve to win.
“It’s not bad luck, it’s deserved. We give away two points. When you give away this penalty, you deserve it. You see the chances we created and conceded it’s quite similar to all this season apart from the Chelsea game – but we are not able to close the games. That is the feeling.”
Man City, who have win just one of their last six league games, are now three points behind leaders Liverpool having played a game more.
