Manchester City’s manager, Pep Guardiola, reassured that the team’s longest winless run in the Premier League in six years should not be a cause for alarm following their thrilling 3-3 draw with Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
Despite Jack Grealish’s 81st-minute goal seemingly securing victory for the champions, Dejan Kulusevski’s header in the 90th minute resulted in City’s third successive draw.
Guardiola and his team expressed frustration when a potential game-winning moment involving Grealish was halted by referee Simon Hooper, who had initially allowed the advantage but later called a foul on Erling Haaland in the build-up.
After the intense match, City found themselves in third place in the standings, trailing leaders Arsenal by three points and one point behind Liverpool.
Guardiola, having regained his composure after a heated closing stage, downplayed concerns despite City conceding eight goals in their last three Premier League games and two in the midweek Champions League clash against RB Leipzig.
“The performance was quite similar to what we have done lately,” Guardiola told a press conference. “The people say you’re concerned about goals you concede, of course but the chances we concede, no.
“It’s not the first time we are in this situation where we are playing well but results don’t come.”
Of the late controversy, Guardiola refused to blame the decision for his side’s failure to win.
“I make mistakes; the players make mistakes,” Guardiola said. “It surprised me because when Erling went down, if you whistle, then it’s fine but when he stands up and continues and the ref makes the gesture to play on, then after he makes the pass, he stops the game.
“After (Haaland) made the pass, he stopped the game. I don’t want to criticise them. On the touchline, sometimes I lose my mind; my gesture was not proper.
“I would say we didn’t draw for that. They are happy, Tottenham for the point. We are less happy but the performance is similar to what we have done lately.”
Injury-plagued Tottenham halted a three-match losing streak in the league, and manager Ange Postecoglou expressed optimism that his team is emerging from a challenging period that commenced with a loss to Chelsea.
Numerous injuries and suspensions have disrupted his side following an impressive start to the season.
However, Sunday’s draw against City is expected to boost team morale as they approach Thursday’s home clash with West Ham United.
Postecoglou is hopeful that the resilient performance against City signals a turning point for Tottenham, despite the setbacks they’ve faced in recent matches.
“I always feel that if you can get through these tough periods by staying true to the team you want to be, then you come out of it stronger, irrespective of the knocks you get along the way,” the Australian said.