Pep Guardiola 'happy and proud' as Manchester City's 1-1 draw with Liverpool

Pep Guardiola won 21 trophies in seven years while in charge of Barcelona and Bayern Munich but said his Manchester City side’s 1-1 draw with Liverpool in the Premier League was one of his happiest moments in management.

It was quite a statement from the Spaniard who was clearly still as breathless as the fans who watched a classic encounter at City’s home ground when he spoke after the match.

“You cannot imagine. It is one of the happiest days of my career as a manager. I am so proud,” Guardiola, whose side were knocked out of the Champions League by Monaco in midweek,” Guardiola said.

“After the Champions League, the last few days at training people were so, so sad, people don’t talk too much.

“We arrive here against Liverpool who have no Europe all season and one week to prepare. The spirit, how we played, it is one of my happiest days as a manager.”

Guardiola’s side fell behind to James Milner’s 51st-minute penalty but earned a point thanks to Sergio Aguero’s equaliser.

Match Stats — Team Stats

• Manchester City	Comparison	Liverpool
  1	50% 50%	1

  Total Shots (including blocked shots)

  Manchester City	Comparison	Liverpool
  13	50% 50%	13

  Shots On Target

  Manchester City	Comparison	Liverpool
  3	42.9% 57.1%	4

  Blocked Shots

  Manchester City	Comparison	Liverpool
  2	33.3% 66.7%	4

  Shots from outside the box

  Manchester City	Comparison	Liverpool
  1	100% 0%	0

  Shots from inside the box

  Manchester City	Comparison	Liverpool
  12	48% 52%	13

  Shot Accuracy (excluding blocked shots)

  Manchester City	Comparison	Liverpool
  27.3%	27.3% 44.4%	44.4%

  Aguero wasted a gilt-edged opportunity to put City ahead, volleying over with the goal gaping, while Adam Lallana also missed a sitter for Liverpool.

  The draw meant both sides dropped points in what is becoming a fierce battle to finish in the top four. City are 12 points behind leaders Chelsea and two behind second-placed Tottenham Hotspur while Liverpool are a further point back.

  Asked why his side’s performance had filled him with pride, Guardiola said it was because of how they responded to their bitter European exit.

  “When you approach one game after 10 games winning, it’s nothing special. But you have to consider the situation we played this game, how we played against them, a top team,” he said.

  “They have exceptional players. This means a lot to me. That is why I am so happy.” We deserved a win, says Guardiola

  Guardiola, winner of two Champions Leagues and three La Liga titles with Barcelona plus three Bundesliga titles with Bayern, said his side had deserved all three points.

  “We are a little sad because we deserved to win,” he said.

  “We conceded some chances but we created more than them. Our problem is we don’t score when they are easy goals. It was the same against Chelsea and Tottenham.”

  Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp rued missed chances but agreed that a draw was a fair end to an eventful encounter.

  “Give me a few hours and then I’m happy,” he said. “To get a point at Manchester City for (any) team in the world is absolutely OK.”

  In other results, Tottenham Hotspur kept Chelsea within its sights at the top of the Premier League by beating Southampton 2-1 and Manchester United improved its prospects by moving into fifth place with a 3-1 victory at Middlesbrough.

  English Premier League
  

  Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
  1	Chelsea	28	22	3	3	38	69
  2	Tottenham Hotspur	28	17	8	3	34	59
  3	Manchester City	28	17	6	5	24	57
  4	Liverpool	29	16	8	5	25	56
  5	Manchester United	27	14	10	3	19	52
  6	Arsenal	27	15	5	7	22	50
  7	Everton	29	14	8	7	21	50
  8	West Bromwich Albion	29	12	7	10	1	43
  9	Stoke City	29	9	9	11	-9	36
  10	Southampton	27	9	6	12	-3	33
  11	Bournemouth	29	9	6	14	-12	33
  12	West Ham United	29	9	6	14	-12	33
  13	Burnley	29	9	5	15	-11	32
  14	Watford	28	8	7	13	-15	31
  15	Leicester City	28	8	6	14	-14	30
  16	Crystal Palace	28	8	4	16	-10	28
  17	Swansea City	29	8	3	18	-27	27
  18	Hull City	29	6	6	17	-32	24
  19	Middlesbrough	28	4	10	14	-13	22
  20	Sunderland	28	5	5	18	-26	20

  Reuters