Guardiola bemoans Manchester City’s stalemate against Aston Villa

Pep Guardiola has blamed his side’s lack of precision in the draw against Aston Villa on Saturday. The Citizens failed to build on their second-half lead against Aston Villa.

Defending champions Manchester City saw their quest to win another Premier League title hit a slight bump on Saturday. The Sky Blues were held to a 1-1 draw at the Etihad by Aston Villa.

The Citizens are bang-on favourites to win the Premier League this season, and the acquisition of Erling Haaland boosted the ratings of the club. The club started the season well but hit the first bump this season when they played a 3-3 draw with Newcastle United.

Pep Guardiola and his wards have shown a penchant for conceding goals. It has been their undoing so far this season. Manchester City have scored 20 Premier league goals this season, but they have also conceded a fair amount as well.

Haaland was on the score sheet again, but his goal was not enough to give Manchester City all three points.

Guardiola frustrated at the draw with Villa

Manchester City hit a bump Saturday afternoon when they took on Aston Villa in a Premier League game. The Citizens laboured all afternoon as they tried to break down the Aston Villa, but a defence marshalled by Tyrone Mings held their own against their more illustrious opponents.

Leon Bailey scored his first Premier League goal since September 2021. The goal was enough to earn Villa a share of the spoils. The Jamaica international beat Ederson with 16 minutes of play left.

Guardiola confessed it was a good game, but his wards were wasteful. Despite taking the lead, the Spaniard bemoaned his side’s sloppiness.

Manchester City were wasteful

Manchester City took his goal tally to 10 this season. He failed to score a third consecutive hat trick but got his tenth goal in six games. Haaland is now the joint-fastest player to reach that tally. Mike Quinn managed the same feat in December 1992.

Haaland also joins an illustrious league of players to score in all their first three away appearances in the Premier League. The others are Peter Beardsley, Jurgen Klinsmann, Francesco Baiano and Alen Boksic.

Manchester City had several opportunities to seal the game, but the Citizens were wasteful. It allowed Aston Villa to claw their way back into the game.

According to Guardiola, City had the game in their hands but let it slip. He complimented Aston Villa for the way they played.

Aston Villa now have four points with one win, a draw and four losses. It is their joint-lowest total at this stage in the competition. Steven Gerrard believes the result can act as a turning point this season.