Pep hails 'a big win' in wake of City's Goodison finale | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola described City’s 2-0 Premier League triumph at Everton as ‘a big win’ in the context of our quest to secure Champions League qualification.

A game of patience in what was our last ever trip to Goodison Park saw City finally break down a dogged and obdurate Everton with Nico O’Reilly making a crucial 84th minute breakthrough.

A deserved victory was then secured in injury time thanks to substitute Mateo Kovacic’s fine strike.

The triumph moved City back up into fourth place in the Premier League table with five games of the season left and left City’s quest to confirm a place in next season’s Champions League firmly in our own hands.

And reflecting on the win, the boss was in no doubt as to its overall importance.

“I would say big. We had to be so smart,” Guardiola declared.

“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.

“What these players have done for a decade I am so grateful whatever happens and this season more than ever.

“We have had a tough period especially with injuries but now we are more or less stable.

“We are miles away from Liverpool but tonight we will see in a few hours what happens between Newcastle and Villa then Chelsea and Nottingham Forest. We will see.

“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.”

The City boss was also full of praise for the contribution of youngster O’Reilly who once again produced a mature assured display at left back capped by that crucial late strike.

It was O’Reilly’s fifth senior strike and second successive Premier League goal and left the boss purring with pleasure.

“He’s an attacking midfielder and when you play as a left back, you can arrive there,” Pep pointed out.

“He always is there. Look at Plymouth and Bournemouth. When you play full back you score, look at Josko before, now him.

“We are so grateful because he’s not a left-back. They have so many tall, strong players.

“When the take is good and you are tall you have a chance.

“They hit the post and then Stefan make a save.

“They make a good 10 minutes in the second half but then we work hard to find the goal.”