Patrick Vieira and Pep Guardiola both praised Eagles goalkeeper Vicente Guaita in their post-match press conferences following Crystal Palace’s 0-0 draw with Manchester City at Selhurst Park on Monday night.
The Spanish shot-stopper had to be in good form to keep City at bay during the 90 minutes and drew compliments from his manager for his game management that helped see Palace over the line in the second half.
His ability to slow down the clock clearly frustrated Guardiola who confronted Guaita on the pitch at the full-time whistle and was caught on TV cameras remonstrating with the keeper about his performance.
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Asked in his post-match press conference what he had been speaking to Guaita about the City boss was coy, saying only: "I congratulated him on an incredible effort and for his saves. He played a great game.”
Vieira agreed and said his number one put in a performance befitting of the challenge that the Premier League leaders brought with them to Selhurst Park.
“He was fantastic,” said the Frenchman. “I think his game managing was excellent.
“When you play against the quality of these teams you have to be really good in a lot of departments of the game and the way we managed the game I think was excellent as well.
“We managed to frustrate them and we needed a very good team performance from the goalkeeper to Jean-Philipe Mateta or Wilfried Zaha when he went as a number nine. Everybody worked hard and this is why we got the result that we did.”
Palace’s clean sheet in the game, coupled with their shutout of Guardiola’s side at the Etihad in October - means they become only the second side to stop Pep’s City from scoring in both league fixtures of a single season.
“They did absolutely everything to win the game,” added Guardiola.
“We played a really good game, a really, really good game at a difficult stadium and (against) a difficult side that defends deep.
“Football is the only game (where) it happens where statistics don’t count, if you don’t score a goal you don’t win it.
“Luck doesn’t exist in football. We have to score goals and we didn’t do it. We played to score goals and concede few. We struggled a little bit.
“It was an incredible effort from Crystal Palace, a fantastic team who defend really well.”
Palace now have a few days to recover from Monday’s result before they turn their attention to an FA Cup quarter-final against Everton at Selhurst Park on Sunday.
