Pep: City have nine Premier League finals left

Pep Guardiola says the battle to secure Champions League qualification could go down to the wire in the wake of City’s 2-2 Premier League draw at home to Brighton.

The reigning champions twice led at the Etihad, firstly through an Erling Haaland penalty and then a superb strike from Omar Marmoush.

However, an Abdukodir Khusanov own goal early after the second half restart alied to an earlier Pervis Estupinan free-kick meant that the points were shared.

The result, in what was the last game before the March international break, left City in fifth place in the table on 48 points from 29 games.

And reflecting on both the result and the performance afterwards, the Blues boss said he felt the battle to secure a top-four position and with it guaranteed Champions League qualification, could go all the way, adding that City had ‘nine finals’ left to navigate.

“Nine games, nine finals. It looks like it [will go down to the last day],” Guardiola reflected.

“Nine games still until the end of the season. We have tough games.

SPOT ON: Erling Haaland celebrates firing City ahead from the penalty spot.

“It was quite similar to Nottingham Forest. Okay, we didn’t lose. The goal was not good enough but it will be [tight] until the end.

“Next game Leicester here and then Old Trafford but first Bournemouth in the FA Cup.”

Reflecting on the display itself, the boss said he was more than pleased with many aspects of today's display.

Marmoush’s brilliant second half finish rounded off what was a fine all-round performance by the Egyptian.

Meanwhile, Haaland’s penalty saw him become the fastest player in Premier League history to register 100 goals or assists, the Norwegian achieving the feat in just 94 games, six quicker than previous record holder Alan Shearer.

“The performance was much, much, much better than the Nottingham Forest game. We make good moments. We had two goals in the first half and clear chances with Savinho,” Pep added.

“They are so good and they link inside and have pace with Mitoma and Minteh. In duels with Baleba and Gomez they are really good.

TWO GOOD: Omar Marmoush wheels away after firing City back in front.

“Jeremy was incredible threat and Omar played really well with the goal and the assist. Ruben was fantastic with Kusa and in general it was good.

“We started the second half 2-1 up and had a good chance. In the corner we were sloppy and they equalised then we were unstable. That is normal.

“We came back in the game and had really good moments.

“They had one clear chance then but we were there and we pushed until the end.

“We’ll take the point.”

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