Pep Guardiola lamented dropping two points after a 1-1 draw at home to Everton, but insists he has no complaints about the visitors’ approach to their Premier League clash at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
Erling Haaland fired defending champions City into the lead in the first half only for Demarai Gray to equalize midway through the second half of a game full of fouls.
The game also required 11 minutes of stoppage time after the assistant referee’s headset was repaired.
The result leaves City in second place, seven points behind Arsenal going into 2023 after the Gunners won 4-2 at Brighton in the last game on Saturday.
City manager Guardiola, describing Everton’s tactics, said: “They scored a very good goal with their first shot on target, so we played a very good game.
“Of course the result was unexpected, but that’s football, it’s not the first time it’s happened. We did everything to win. They played very well.”
The Spaniard added: “After we lost our rhythm because the referee was not ready, but in general, we did everything and unfortunately we couldn’t win.”
The draw gave Everton their first point in four games and left the Merseysiders, who lost 2-1 at home to Wolves in their first game after the World Cup, two points above the relegation zone.
“I think we limited a good chance,” said Everton manager Frank Lampard.
“And about our character and discipline and following the plan, working continuously for 100 minutes, knowing that sometimes it’s difficult and you have to stay, I think we did well and we deserved to get a point.”
Lampard, referring to Gray’s “unstoppable” attack, said: “When he scores a goal like that, it just shows the talent he has, and gets a point.”