Pep Guardiola has said Manchester City face an uphill battle – “a season to survive” – to regain their Premier League title after they were held to a 2-2 draw by Crystal Palace.
City avoided a sixth straight away defeat in all competitions after Erling Haaland and Rico Lewis equalised Crystal Palace’s goals from Daniel Muñoz and Maxence Lacroix. But Lewis, who filled in at left-back after injuries ruled out Nathan Aké and Manuel Akanji, is set to miss next Sunday’s Manchester derby at the Etihad after being shown a second yellow card in the 84th minute, reducing the visitors to 10 men at Selhurst Park.
City are already without several first-teamers as they prepare to face Juventus in Turin on Wednesday in the Champions League and Guardiola acknowledged injuries have taken their toll on his squad. City trail the leaders, Liverpool, by eight points having played a game more .
“It’s a season to survive. We cannot talk about the title race when we lose four games in a row and draw,” he said. “Unfortunately we are missing an important player for us this season for the next game against United at home. But in general what they have done in the circumstances is really good.
“We knew it from the beginning that we have been unlucky in many things and we have to continue with that with the players we have at our disposal.”
Jack Grealsih and Jérémy Doku were brought on as late substitutes despite Guardiola expressing concern about their workload. But while he was not happy with the way his side defended for Palace’s second goal from a corner, he was pleased Haaland found the net to move him level with Mohamed Salah on 13 league goals.
“We are lucky we have him,” he said. “We are so lucky we have him this season, lucky we have Rico [Lewis], lucky we have Bernardo [Silva], [Ilkay] Gündo, 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 …”
The Palace manager, Oliver Glasner, felt his side could have had more against the reigning champions. “After having the lead twice, especially after 2-1 we got too passive,” he said.
“It’s not that easy against City. It’s not a criticism of the players but when you’re in your own third it’s a matter of time. A gap of one yard they find it with one or two touches.”
