In the end Manchester City did what they had to do at Goodison Park | OneFootball

All Manchester City had to do at Goodison Park yesterday against Everton was pick up three points. The battle to secure Champions League football for next season is now looking like it will go down to the wire. So Pep Guardiola’s side simply had to win yesterday to maintain their position on the Premier League table. Come the final whistle they’d done just that as they picked up a crucial 2-nil win over Everton.

Yesterday’s performance from Manchester City wasn’t a classic City performance. They had to grind out a victory. What it was, though, was reminiscent of the way Pep Guardiola’s side used to grind out results when they needed them the most in title races past. They upped their intensity over the closing 20 minutes of yesterday’s match and late goals from Nico O’Reilly and Mateo Kovacic sealed the win for City. But the experience of the Manchester City squad was pivotal to yesterday’s result. They knew what they had to do and did it. It was a huge result for Pep Guardiola’s side. They should carry the confidence from yesterday’s win into their upcoming fixture against Aston Villa at the Etihad.

Speaking after his team’s win Pep Guardiola acknowledged that it was a big win for his team. He also acknowledged that his team had to play smart to pick up a crucial. Speaking on his team’s win Guardiola said: “I would say big. We had to be so smart. With five or six games left, winning here at Goodison Park in the moment that they have, winning at Nottingham Forest away and Arsenal could not win here. It’s massively important.”

Manchester City face a crucial fixture against Aston Villa this week.

Pep Guardiola also acknowledged that his team’s upcoming Premier League fixture against Aston Villa is a cup final of sorts. Manchester City sit fourth on the league table with Villa a point behind City in sixth. Speaking on City’s upcoming clash with Unai Emery’s side at the Etihad Stadium Guardiola said: “Now it’s in our hands. A final on Tuesday [at home to Aston Villa] then two more games home and away. Hopefully, we can achieve the success of qualifying for the Champions League.”

Manchester City did what they had to do at Goodison Park yesterday. They had to leave their final fixture at Goodison Park with three points. They did just that and now it sets them up for a huge clash with Aston Villa this week. If City can win that it will set them up in the chase to secure Champions League football for next season.