Pep Guardiola defended his Manchester City players’ effort after dropping points in the title race by drawing at Everton.
City found themselves 3-1 down at the Hill Dickinson Stadium but came back to draw 3-3 thanks to an Erling Haaland strike and a stunning last-minute equaliser from Jeremy Doku, who had also opened the scoring on the night.
The draw, however, leaves City five points behind league leaders Arsenal, though having played a game less than Mikel Arteta’s men, who have three games remaining to City’s four.
“We have to win the games. Now it’s not in our hands. If they win all the games, they will win the title. All we can do is win our games,” Guardiola stressed after the game.
Asked what his message to his players is, and whether it is one of urging more effort, he replied: “I tell them how good they are, how they fought all the time. Brentford, recover and go. Then after that Crystal Palace and the FA Cup final. Then see what happens.
”A better effort cannot be possible. The message is the same as the day before. We have four games left, win the games.”