Manchester City were once again undone in the second half, dropping points despite a promising start, yet Pep Guardiola remains optimistic about their title ambitions. On Sunday night, City appeared on course for a comfortable victory against Tottenham Hotspur after taking a 2-0 lead, only to see the match end in a frustrating 2-2 draw at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The draw leaves City trailing league leaders Arsenal by six points, with 47 points from 24 matches. Guardiola, however, insisted that as long as there is a chance, hope remains alive. “As long as there is an opportunity, there will be hope,” he said, reflecting his characteristic calm amidst disappointment.
Match Summary
City started brightly, with French winger Rayan Cherki opening the scoring in the 11th minute. Antoine Semenyo doubled the advantage, seemingly putting the visitors in control. However, Tottenham fought back in the second half, with Dominic Solanke netting twice, in the 53rd and 70th minutes, to snatch a share of the points.
Guardiola acknowledged the team’s recurring issues in the latter stages of matches: “You are right. We have talked about it. As a manager, you can make changes in the second half. When you play badly in the first half, you can adjust. Tottenham had a few free-kicks in the first half, but everything else was fine. We started the second half really well, but after conceding a goal, everything changed.”
Title Race Standings
| Position | Team | Matches Played | Points | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 24 | 53 | League leaders |
| 2 | Manchester City | 24 | 47 | Draw vs Tottenham |
| 3 | Aston Villa | 24 | 46 | Defeated 10-man Brentford |
| 4 | Liverpool | 24 | 46 | Behind on goal difference |
The second-half goals appear to have become a worrying pattern for City this season. Earlier this year, they lost the Manchester Derby after conceding in the 65th and 76th minutes, and similarly dropped points against Brighton and Chelsea despite leading. In November, Newcastle also capitalised on second-half lapses to secure a win against the reigning champions.
Guardiola also voiced frustration over some refereeing decisions in the Tottenham match. He was particularly irked by Solanke’s first goal, which followed a challenge by City defender Marc Guehi inside the penalty area. “When a centre-back fouls an opposing striker like that, it is certainly a penalty. In the Premier League, these things happen when you concede a goal, which you cannot always control,” Guardiola explained.
Despite the setbacks, City now face a crucial clash at Anfield against Liverpool next Sunday. Guardiola remains confident, praising his squad’s resilience: “We have problems, but the players are coming back, and I have seen incredible morale in them.”
Even with the ongoing second-half struggles, Guardiola’s unwavering belief underscores that Manchester City are far from conceding the Premier League title race.