Man City boss Pep Guardiola lays down new challenge to Premier League rivals

Pep Guardiola felt his team delivered a statement of intent with their late show at Goodison Park. In a game the champions needed to win to boost their hopes of a top-five finish, they struggled to find a way past ’ defiant side in the final six minutes.

remain on course to qualify for the for a 15th successive season. And said: “I would say this is big. We have five games left, three at home and two away, so to win at Goodison Park is a big moment.

“ won at last week. and couldn’t win here. So this is massively important. You always have character when you win. When you don’t win, you don’t have it. But what these players have done for almost a decade means I am so grateful for whatever happens.

“Now it is in our hands - but we have a final (against ) on Tuesday and hopefully we can have a big success and qualify.”

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City struggled to break Everton down until homegrown O’Reilly arrived to break the deadlock from close range. The 20-year-old, playing in an unfamiliar left-back role, is a midfielder by trade. He has come up with important goals and assists as City have reached the semi-finals for a seventh successive season.

Guardiola said: “He’s an attacking midfielder so when we play him at full-back he is quick in transitions. But when you play left-back in this team, you will score goals.”

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Toffees boss David Moyes felt the second-half loss of defender James Tarkowski with a hamstring strain was a key moment.

The Scot said: “For 60-odd minutes we gave City a good game. Tarky coming off changed things a lot more than it should have done. I thought we should have defended better for the first goal than we did.

“But it says a lot about how far we have come that I am disappointed to lose to Man City.”

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