Pep Guardiola insisted there was a protracted solution to go within the Premier League title race however conceded Manchester City had missed a possibility following their 1-0 defeat at Tottenham.
Harry Kane’s record-breaking objective within the fifteenth minute earned Spurs a 3rd win from their final 4 matches in opposition to the Premier League champions, who might have closed the hole on leaders Arsenal to 2 factors.
It proved to be Kane’s day along with his scuffed first-half end shifting him past Jimmy Greaves’ tally and placing him alone as Tottenham’s all-time main scorer with 267 objectives to make each side of north London glad.
Guardiola admitted: “Yes, of course, Arsenal have dropped few, few points so far and of course there was an opportunity.
“It was important to be close and leave the fifth in the table that Tottenham is right now far away, to secure the qualification for the Champions League next season that is important for many reasons.
“The team started really, really well with many, many things, creating one or two set-piece chances, but after a mistake we did two weeks ago, today we did it again and of course you have to minimise it, but sometimes it’s not possible.
“Unfortunately it’s happened. Two weeks ago we were able to come back with a more difficult scoreline than 0-1 (to win 4-2).
“But of course the stadium and everything is completely different. There were a lot of interruptions in the second half and it was more difficult.”
City had failed to attain of their earlier 4 journeys to Tottenham’s new stadium and Riyad Mahrez went closest in first-half stoppage time when his half-volley struck the crossbar.
Top goalscorer Erling Haaland struggled all through although and even with Cristian Romero’s late pink card for the hosts, Guardiola’s second-placed facet didn’t profit from Arsenal dropping at Everton on Saturday.
“A lot of games to play, think about Aston Villa,” he insisted when quizzed on the title race.
“Of course I’ve plenty of gratitude for these gamers. Always I attempt to do my greatest, I don’t wish to drop a lot however I knew it. I stated many instances I knew we’re not the identical after successful quite a bit. Me included, I’m the primary to speak about that.
It does not matter what occurred up to now or the success we had. No, we now have to attempt to do it (once more). Now we’re unhappy, tomorrow we’ll mirror and watch the sport
Pep Guardiola
“It doesn’t matter what happened in the past or the success we had. No, we have to try to do it (again). Now we are sad, tomorrow we will reflect and watch the game.
“After we are going to think about Aston Villa, that will be tough, with our people, our fans. It will be a long, long season for everyone and for ourselves and all the teams so we will try to continue.”
There was a sure irony to Kane additional derailing City’s title tilt having been near signing for Guardiola’s facet in the summertime of 2021.
Meanwhile, the City boss felt the ire of ex-Spurs supervisor Mauricio Pochettino in the course of the 2017-18 marketing campaign when he described Tottenham because the “Harry Kane team”.
He joked: “I’m not going to say the Harry team otherwise Pochettino will be grumpy and upset with me and I don’t want it.
“On behalf of Manchester City, I can say congratulations for this incredible milestone. He is an exceptional player.”
Spurs assistant Cristian Stellini paid tribute to “amazing” match-winner Kane and revealed boss Antonio Conte phoned his gamers after the match to congratulate them on the victory.
Conte is presently in Italy recovering from surgical procedure after having his gallbladder eliminated on Wednesday.
“He is amazing to enjoy and to work with a player like Harry,” Stellini insisted.
“Immediately when we arrived Antonio was on the phone and he said he was really happy.
“He gave compliments to everyone and especially to Harry for the record he achieved. It was amazing, he was really happy and he gave them the day off tomorrow. They enjoy a lot this moment.”
