Pep salutes team for ‘dignity’ of draw with Spurs

PEP Guardiola believes the performances of his Manchester City side “dignify” football.

The Premier League champions were held to a 2-2 draw by Tottenham on Saturday but Guardiola was not concerned about the dropped points because their display was so good.

Ci t y racked up 30 shots compared to their visitors’ three at the Etihad Stadium, continuing the dominance that has seen them win five major domestic trophies and accumulate 198 points in the past two seasons.

Boss Guardiola said: “I’m not going to think about how many points we need to be champions, or if Liverpool’s going to win, or if we’re going to win, when we’re in the second fixture of the season.

“Always I’m a spectator, too, and I’m more than delighted. What we are looking for, from the first day I came here, is to try to play in the way we played (on Saturday).

“I think we dignify this sport. We dignify the people who pay to come to watch us and see how honest we are to play for the people. And, more than anything, I would like – when I finish my period here – to leave that.

“In the first season, but especially the last two seasons, we were an incredible team. An incredible team.”

City struck against Spurs through Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero but were pegged back on rare Spurs attacks through Erik Lamela and Lucas Moura. City continued to pepper the Spurs goal and Gabriel Jesus was controversially denied a late winner by VAR after replays showed the ball hit Aymeric Laporte’s arm.