The numbers that prove Pep Guardiola right – Man City are failing to close out games

Pep Guardiola has been his side throw away several games this season – Getty Images/Sebastian Frej

Pep Guardiola admitted Manchester City’s inability to close out games is costing his side after they dropped more ground on their rivals with a 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace.

The reigning Premier League champions looked in control when leading 2-0 with 14 minutes remaining at the Etihad Stadium but lost their way in the closing stages, and were eventually denied by Michael Olise’s stoppage-time penalty.

Their collapse continues a worrying recent trend for Guardiola, who has now watched his team throw away strong positions against Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham and now Palace in recent weeks.

City’s numbers certainly make for interesting reading. They are the Premier League’s top scorers with 40, but have also conceded 20, as many as 16th-placed Everton. They have kept only one clean sheet in their last 11 league games.

Furthermore, after 17 games, they have their lowest points total since 2016-17, Guardiola’s first season with the club, and they have now failed to win three straight home league games for the first time in seven years.

That gives hope to rivals, especially Liverpool and Arsenal, both of whom can make up further ground as City head for the Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia. Were results to go their way, Liverpool could be as many as 12 points clear of City before Guardiola’s side return to Premier League action on Dec 27.

City relied on a stingy defence en route to the title last season – this term its been a different story – Getty Images/Sebastian Frej

“Of course, we have to win games to make it depend on ourselves,” Guardiola said. “It’s not for us to think about the distance, about what they do and what would be possible.

“I have the feeling here that the last three games we played here where we dropped points, we were excellent, but the reality is that we got three points.

“We could not win it, but the performance was really good. But at the end, we were not able to close the games.”

Guardiola was particularly irked by Palace’s equaliser on Saturday, with first Phil Foden and then Bernardo Silva conceding possession before Foden’s clumsy challenge on Jean-Philippe Mateta saw a penalty awarded.

“Football is about closing games,” Guardiola said. “Don’t give away that penalty and the game will be over. If Phil kept the ball in that position or Bernardo kept the ball in that position, the game was over.

“In the last minutes when it was 2-1, we have to control it better.”

City flew to Saudi Arabia on Saturday evening, with Guardiola admitting the mood on their seven-hour flight would be a sombre one. They face Japanese side Urawa Red Diamonds on Wednesday before a potential final against Fluminense, of Brazil, or the African champions Al-Ahly on Sunday.

“We love to go to play in the Club World Cup,” Guardiola said. “To go there you have to win the Champions League, so I’m very pleased and excited to go there to try and win it.

“Years ago we could not imagine being there, and we are there. Today it is more difficult but we have to lift the mood tomorrow.

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