Pep Guardiola remains optimistic about Manchester City s performances despite Demarai Gray s stunning equaliser denting the champions title hopes on New Year s Eve.
Gray picked out the top-right corner with Everton s first shot of the game after 64 minutes at the Etihad Stadium, cancelling out Erling Haaland s opener in a stop-start 1-1 draw.
Having lost to Brentford before the World Cup, City have now failed to win in back-to-back home league games for the first time since May 2021 and remain without a Premier League victory on December 31 (D4 L1).
While City s dropped points handed Arsenal the initiative in an intriguing battle at the top of the table, Guardiola saw no reason to criticise his team s performance.
Great game. We ve played really well in the last three games and it makes me feel optimistic, he told BBC Sport.
Dropping points at home is always tough, but I m always trying to make our game good, and we have continued to do it.
I would say they had eight at the back. In that situation, it s about movement and attacking at the right moment. In general we did it. We didn t allow them transitions.
They made a fantastic goal and when that happens you say congratulations, but in general we did really well.
Manchester City 1-1 Everton
Manchester City have failed to win back-to-back home league games for the first time since May 2021, when they lost against Leeds and Chelsea.
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst)
However, defender John Stones was less positive, bemoaning City s failure to find a second goal against a resilient Everton side.
I don t really know what to say. I feel like we ve lost two points, the former Toffees centre-back said. That s football.
We controlled the game for the majority of the time and had a lot of chances, but we couldn t seem to get that goal.
It s difficult to take after the game. We showed great character to keep fighting and pushing. It was a bit of a scrappy game.
We conceded two shots all game, but it s overlooked because of that incredible goal. On reflection, we ll be more positive when we look back, I m sure.
