City ‘earn the point’ following Sunderland stalemate
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola expressed disappointment over his team’s failure to capitalize on their opportunities in the second half, as they ended with a 0-0 draw against Sunderland.
The draw leaves Arsenal four points ahead at the midpoint of the Premier League season, but Guardiola found positives in his team’s performance against the Black Cats, who continue to remain unbeaten on their home turf.
Rodri made his return from injury at the start of the second half, bolstering City’s midfield, while opposing captain Granit Xhaka once again delivered a stellar performance throughout the match.
Guardiola commented: “It was a good game, and we take the point. The second half was outstanding. We squandered opportunities. We failed to score from the six-yard box.
“How often were we positioned in the six-yard box against the keeper and couldn’t finish? Naturally, they present a threat; they are exceptionally good. I am genuinely satisfied with our play, particularly in the second half.
“We generated numerous chances against that team in this stadium, especially during the second half. In the first half, we struggled primarily due to their pressing, but Rodri provided us the necessary second pass, a moment to break the lines, enabling us to run. The second half showed significant improvement.
“They are incredibly physical. Their strength is not surprising. We take the point. (It’s) a lengthy journey ahead.
“The outcome is simply what it is.”
Sunderland’s goalkeeper Robin Roefs recorded four saves, with Burnley’s Martin Dúbravka being the only goalie to register more stops in the Premier League this season.
However, City’s Gigi Donnarumma was called upon to make a crucial first-half save to deny Brian Brobbey, and Sunderland’s manager Regis le Bris was pleased with the result.
He remarked: “It was a solid match. We faced a genuinely strong opponent, one of the top teams in Europe. We demonstrated that we can defend high; when they pushed higher due to their quality, we needed to manage possession in the final third. They created multiple chances, but our character was commendable. Even when we were under pressure, we managed to keep the ball safe.
“It was vital to evade their counter-press, which was exceptional a few weeks ago at the Etihad, making it impossible to escape. We performed well in that aspect today. We are evolving and learning from various situations.
“It’s a matter of experience; the expectations within our team are elevated. They aim for continuous improvement. If you remain static, the league progresses so swiftly that you’ll find yourself left behind. Their ambition persists.”
Published: 2026-01-01 22:43:00
source: www.101greatgoals.com
