Janusz Michallik has shared his insights on Manchester City’s recent 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace, a result that sees Pep Guardiola’s squad falter further in the Premier League title race.
In a challenging match played under damp and windy conditions at Selhurst Park, Manchester City’s Rico Lewis managed to score in the second half but was later sent off shortly before the final whistle. The draw means that City remains winless in their last six away outings across all competitions, placing them fourth in the league with 27 points from 15 matches. Crystal Palace, on the other hand, sits four points clear of the relegation zone at 16th.
Guardiola acknowledged the team’s efforts, stating, “We take a point. We fought incredible and came back twice. It’s a season to suffer. We’ll see what happens in the last months.” He credited Crystal Palace for their performance and emphasized the need for Manchester City to improve their consistency, especially given that they’ve suffered four consecutive games without a win.
The match began poorly for City as Daniel Muñoz scored for Palace early on, putting City in a difficult position. However, Erling Haaland equalized in the 30th minute with a header from a long cross by Matheus Nunes, marking his 13th goal in the league this season, tying him with Mohamed Salah for the top scorer.
Palace regained the lead in the 56th minute thanks to a headed goal from Maxence Lacroix, but City managed another equalizer with Lewis striking a solid shot after a clever pass from Bernardo Silva. However, Lewis’ afternoon ended on a sour note as he was given a second yellow card for a late challenge.
Despite the draw feeling like a missed opportunity for City, midfielder Bernardo Silva expressed dissatisfaction, saying, “One point is better than zero but we’re not happy at the moment.” He recognized the challenges posed by injuries but stressed the need for improvement.
In contrast, Palace’s head coach, Oliver Glasner, expressed satisfaction with the draw, highlighting an unbeaten week and the potential for greater success if the team optimally performed.
City created numerous chances throughout the match, including a crucial save from Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson, who deflected a close-range shot from Haaland. The team can take some consolation in their attacking play, although they will need to sharpen their finishing if they hope to regain their winning momentum.
Looking ahead, there remains hope for Manchester City. With many matches still to play this season, recovering key players from injury and finding rhythm could see them bounce back stronger in the Premier League. For Crystal Palace, their ability to earn points against tough opponents indicates promising growth as they strive for mid-table security.