Leeds loss does not overshadow Man City achievements - Guardiola

Pep Guardiola says his team's 2-1 Premier League defeat to Leeds United will not cast a shadow over its superb season.

Published : Apr 11, 2021 14:03 IST

Pep Guardiola interacts with Marcelo Bielsa during the Premier League contest on Saturday.
Pep Guardiola interacts with Marcelo Bielsa during the Premier League contest on Saturday.
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Pep Guardiola interacts with Marcelo Bielsa during the Premier League contest on Saturday.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola said his team's 2-1 Premier League home defeat to 10-man Leeds United on Saturday will not cast a shadow over its superb season.

League leader City was left stunned when Leeds midfielder Stuart Dallas scored the winner late on to hand Guardiola's side only its second defeat in 29 matches in all competitions this season.

“What happens when you lose games is that you realise how difficult what we have done so far is. You realise how difficult it is to win 27 in 29 games,” Guardiola, whose side has 74 points from 32 matches, told reporters.

City needs 11 points to secure its third league title in four years. Guardiola said his team would look to respond in its remaining matches. “The Premier League must still be won. We need points still because our opponents can win all their games,” Guardiola said.

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“Now we need to do it again... Three of the next four games are like finals, in the Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup. We have incredible confidence in the guys. Defeat sometimes is necessary to understand how difficult what we have done is and what we have to do to move forward.”

Guardiola, whose team carries a 2-1 lead into the second leg of its Champions League quarterfinal with Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday, said City did not create enough chances for the forwards against Leeds. “It's part of the game. In the last 10 minutes they had other chances. They are fast and can do it. When they defend in the way they were doing, you have to stop them running,” he said.

“We didn't do that. We're going to rest and prepare two days for the game in Dortmund and decide on how we're going to play.”

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