Author: Vishwajit Sawant
Manchester City remain in contention for the Premier League title after securing a 2-1 win over Leeds, although manager Pep Guardiola expressed his dissatisfaction with the performances of his top scorers Erling Haaland and Ilkay Gundogan. Guardiola reminded both players that “this is business” after a missed penalty from Gundogan allowed Sam Allardyce’s side back into the game.
Haaland, the club’s top scorer with 51 goals this season, passed the ball to Gundogan, who was on his way to a hat-trick after scoring the previous two goals, but the German midfielder hit the post and Leeds took advantage of the situation to score and create a nervy finish for City. Despite the win, Guardiola made it clear to both players that he wanted Haaland to take the penalty.
Pep Guardiola seemed calmer during the post-match press conference, but remained firm in his opinion that Haaland should have taken the penalty. Guardiola stressed the importance of having a specialist penalty taker, especially given the situation they found themselves in with a 2-0 lead.
Guardiola admired Gundogan for his willingness to take responsibility, but reiterated that the man who takes the ball must be the one with the most experience and routine. Guardiola also praised Haaland’s performance, highlighting his incredible movement and contribution to the team, even if he didn’t score.
The Manchester City manager concluded that soccer is a business and that decisions should not be taken lightly.
Manchester City’s 2-1 win over Leeds marks their 20th game unbeaten in all competitions and brings them a step closer to a historic treble. The Citizens have been chasing Arsenal for most of the season and were eight points behind in January. However, with just four games remaining for both teams, City have managed to build a considerable lead over their rivals for the first time.
Despite this, they remain cautious and focused on maintaining momentum. to win crucial games. As Gundogan pointed out, the narrow win against Leeds serves as a reminder of the challenges that lie ahead, but the experienced team is well equipped to handle the pressure and maintain their winning form.