The coach of Manchester City had a goal in mind, and he’s already achieved it. Last season, Pep Guardiola led City to win the ‘treble,’ securing victories in various competitions, leaving just the FIFA Club World Cup. Last Friday, they clinched that title too.
Despite City’s dominance, Guardiola faces a new challenge: maintaining their trophy haul. However, in the English Premier League, they’ve been slightly behind. In their last three home games, City had three draws and managed to win only one of their last six matches, collecting five points on the table. They currently sit fourth with 37 points after 18 matches, trailing Liverpool at 42 points.
In their match against Everton at Goodison Park, Jack Harrison’s goal in the 29th minute initially put Everton ahead. The first half hinted at a possible setback for City, but they turned it around in the second half, leveling the score through Phil Foden. Later, Bernardo Silva’s goal sealed their comeback victory, pushing them up to the top four.
This victory marks a record for Guardiola. He has won the most matches against Everton’s current coach, Rafa Benitez. Guardiola has won 16 out of 17 matches against teams managed by Benitez, drawing one. In these 17 matches, Guardiola’s City scored 52 goals, contrasting with Benitez’s teams, which scored only six.
Guardiola’s rallying cry seems louder after their rise to the top four, emphasizing that their mentality should uphold their status. He firmly believes in maintaining their current standing and not slipping down the ranks.
Manchester City participated in the FIFA Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia, and after a successful campaign, the players are reportedly planning matches against Everton upon their return. Guardiola mentioned his willingness to continue striving for success. He acknowledged the hunger to maintain their winning streak, particularly in the pursuit of the league title.
In another Premier League match, Chelsea, struggling due to recent setbacks, lost 2-1 against Crystal Palace at their home ground, Stamford Bridge. This loss pushed Chelsea down in the rankings, leaving them hovering around the top ten, while Crystal Palace climbed up the table. Chelsea now stands with 25 points, level with Wolverhampton Wanderers and Brighton but maintains a goal difference advantage to hold their position in the top ten.
