Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Pep admits defeat in Premier League title race
PEP Guardiola appeared to concede defeat in the title race after Manchester City suffered a humbling 4-0 loss at Everton.
City capitulated alarmingly in the latter stages at Goodison Park yesterday to crash to their heaviest Premier League defeat since 2008 and their fifth loss of this campaign.
The result left them fifth, trailing leaders Chelsea by 10 points, and Guardiola admitted a league title in his first season in English football could be beyond him.
Asked if the gap to the top was now too great, Guardiola said: “Yes. Ten points is a lot of points. The second place is three points. We have to see.”
Guardiola, however, felt his side were unfortunate and insisted they would continue to push hard.
He said: “In so many games we create enough chances, but when they arrive they score and the second time they arrive they score.
“That, for the mind of the players, is tough, mentally tough, and that is why we have to keep going, be strong and work harder.”
The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss denied he was now facing the toughest challenge of a managerial career that had never before suffered a 4-0 loss in a domestic league match.
He feels his jobs in the past were just as challenging but he managed to find the route to success quicker.
He said: “I have to look for the best solution to take the players to winning games again.
“I am happy in Manchester but, of course, it is the first time in my life I have conceded a lot of goals. It never happened before and I need to know the reason why.”