Pep Guardiola says the battle to safe Champions League qualification may go right down to the wire within the wake of Metropolis’s 2-2 Premier League draw at dwelling to Brighton.
The reigning champions twice led on the Etihad, firstly via an Erling Haaland penalty after which an excellent strike from Omar Marmoush.
Nevertheless, an Abdukodir Khusanov personal purpose early after the second half restart alied to an earlier Pervis Estupinan free-kick meant that the factors have been shared.
The end result, in what was the final recreation earlier than the March worldwide break, left Metropolis in fifth place within the desk on 48 factors from 29 video games.
And reflecting on each the end result and the efficiency afterwards, the Blues boss mentioned he felt the battle to safe a top-four place and with it assured Champions League qualification, may go all the way in which, including that Metropolis had ‘9 finals’ left to navigate.
“9 video games, 9 finals. It seems prefer it [will go down to the last day],” Guardiola mirrored.
“9 video games nonetheless till the tip of the season. We’ve got powerful video games.
“It was fairly just like Nottingham Forest. Okay, we didn’t lose. The purpose was not ok however will probably be [tight] till the tip.
“Subsequent recreation Leicester right here after which Previous Trafford however first Bournemouth within the FA Cup.”
Reflecting on the show itself, the boss mentioned he was greater than happy with many features of right this moment’s show.
Marmoush’s good second half end rounded off what was a fantastic all-round efficiency by the Egyptian.
In the meantime, Haaland’s penalty noticed him change into the quickest participant in Premier League historical past to register 100 objectives or assists, the Norwegian attaining the feat in simply 94 video games, six faster than earlier document holder Alan Shearer.
“The efficiency was a lot, a lot, significantly better than the Nottingham Forest recreation. We make good moments. We had two objectives within the first half and clear probabilities with Savinho,” Pep added.
“They’re so good they usually hyperlink inside and have tempo with Mitoma and Minteh. In duels with Baleba and Gomez they’re actually good.
“Jeremy was unimaginable risk and Omar performed very well with the purpose and the help. Ruben was incredible with Kusa and normally it was good.
“We began the second half 2-1 up and had a great probability. Within the nook we have been sloppy they usually equalised then we have been unstable. That’s regular.
“We got here again within the recreation and had actually good moments.
“They’d one clear probability then however we have been there and we pushed till the tip.
“We’ll take the purpose.”