By Rasheed Adewuyi, New York
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola praised his players’ determination after they battled to a hard-fought 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace at the Etihad Stadium.
Guardiola admitted City were pushed hard by a disciplined Palace side, commending the visitors for their defensive organisation and compact low block that frustrated the champions for long periods.
According to the City boss, matches of that nature are often decided by moments of brilliance and attacking quality in the final third.
“The quality makes the difference in these types of games,” Guardiola said after the victory.
He reserved special praise for Phil Foden, whose energy and creativity helped City finally break through Palace’s resistance.
“Phil is full of it in his body… an incredible runner and fighter, and a real spark in the final third,” Guardiola added.
The Spaniard also applauded the impact of substitutes Rayan Cherki and Mateo Kovacic, saying both players injected fresh intensity and helped raise the tempo after coming off the bench.
Despite the comfortable scoreline, Guardiola stressed that City had to work relentlessly to secure the win as the Premier League title race enters a decisive stage.
Looking ahead, the City manager insisted his side can only focus on maintaining pressure and staying ready, while acknowledging that Arsenal still hold control over how the title race will unfold.