Manchester City’s disappointing season ended with the comfort of a spot within the Champions League after a 2-0 victory at Fulham on Sunday, earned by Ilkay Gundogan’s overhead kick and an Erling Haaland penalty.
The victory ensured City end third within the desk with 71 factors from 38 video games, the primary time they’ve ended outdoors the highest two for the reason that 2016-17 season. Fulham completed eleventh with 54 factors.
City opened the scoring on 21 minutes when Matheus Nunes’ chipped shot on the angle was clawed away by Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno and into the trail of Gundogan, whose acrobatic effort steered the ball into the online off the crossbar.
The guests doubled their benefit when Sasa Lukic fouled Gundogan within the field and Haaland transformed the spot kick to attain his twenty second league purpose of the marketing campaign, whereas Kevin De Bruyne got here off the bench for the ultimate 5 minutes in his farewell to City.
“It’s like a title, (due to) the obstacles,” Guardiola informed BBC. “In the end we finished third, not miles away from Arsenal, but the distance to Liverpool is huge. We have to improve and hopefully we can do it.”
The guests left Jack Grealish out of their match-day squad amid speak he may depart the membership, Guardiola saying it was a “selection” determination.
De Bruyne hung out with the City followers on the ultimate whistle, a lot of them holding up indicators of because of the Belgian for his decade on the membership.
He obtained heat applause from Fulham followers as properly, such has been his impression on the Premier League.
City began with confidence understanding victory would assure them Champions League soccer within the new marketing campaign, whereas Fulham nonetheless had faint hopes of a Conference League place.
Any City nerves there may need been had been settled by Gundogan’s well-taken opener, whereas Fulham winger Adama Traore’s poor first contact denied him a one-on-one likelihood with Ederson when he beat the City offside lure.
The Brazilian keeper then made a superb cease to disclaim Harry Wilson with a low save to his left. Andreas Pereira may solely ship the rebound into the aspect netting.
Wilson and Raul Jiminez went shut a number of extra instances as Fulham pushed for an equaliser however when City transformed their penalty likelihood they had been capable of see out the sport.
The end result meant certainly one of Pep Guardiola’s hardest seasons as a supervisor ended on a constructive observe.
“It’s been a tough year but we never gave up. I’m very proud and pleased for the team. Now we will recover and next season will be better,” Guardiola stated.
Source: www.anews.com.tr