Pep Guardiola claims Manchester City are lucky to have 5 key players after draw against Crystal Palace
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes his side are lucky to have had five key players always available this season. The Cityzens were held to a 2-2 draw by Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday, December 7.
City dropped points once more in the Premier League, further denting their hopes of defending the Premier League crown for a fourth successive season. Guardiola's side finished the game with ten men after youngster Rico Lewis was shown a red card for two bookings in the second half.
Pep Guardiola spoke to reporters in the aftermath of the game at Selhurst Park, pointing out his side's injury problems as a factor in their struggles. He stated that he is thankful for the fitness of Erling Haaland, Bernardo Silva, Josko Gvardiol, Ilkay Gundogan, and Lewis this season. Guardiola said:
"We are lucky that we have Erling Haaland. We are so lucky that we have him this season, lucky that we have Rico [Lewis], lucky that we have Bernardo [Silva], [Ilkay] Gundo, all these players, Josko [Gvardiol], all these players that all season have been playing and playing without rest. We are so lucky for these four, five, six players..."
Manchester City have struggled with fitness problems this season and currently have six senior players out injured. The duo of Rodri and Oscar Bobb are long-term absentees, while the quartet of John Stones, Nathan Ake, Mateo Kovacic, and Phil Foden were ruled out before the game.
Ten-man Manchester City drop points to resolute Crystal Palace
Manchester City dropped points away from home to Crystal Palace in the Premier League, playing out a 2-2 draw with Oliver Glasner's side at Selhurst Park. The champions have now dropped 13 points away from home in the league this season, the amount they dropped in the entirety of the 2023-24 season.
Buoyed by a morale-boosting win over Nottingham Forest last time out, Pep Guardiola's side looked to claim a second successive win in the league. They found themselves behind after just four minutes, as Daniel Munoz opened the scoring for the home side. The reigning champions equalised on the half-hour mark as Erling Haaland guided a header into the back of the net.
Crystal Palace retook the lead in the 56th minute through Maxence Lacroix before Rico Lewis scored a fine goal in the 68th minute to draw level once more. The youngster then received his marching orders in the 84th minute following a second booking, leaving Manchester City to finish the game with ten men.