Villa win felt extra special, says Christiansen | OneFootball

Izzy Christiansen says City’s last-gasp 2-1 win over Aston Villa on Tuesday could prove pivotal in terms of the quest to secure Champions League football next term.

On a night full of drama at the Etihad, it looked as if the points would be shared when Matheus Nunes converted a 94th minute Jeremy Doku assist to register his first Premier League goal for the Club and seal a priceless three points.

The victory moved Pep Guardiola’s side up into third place in the table on 61 points with just four games of the season left.

And for former City and England midfielder Christiansen, who was one of our special guests on Tuesday’s latest edition of Matchday Live, it couldn’t have been more important coming against a high-flying Villa side also pushing for a top-five finish.

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“I had this feeling the game was going to produce something special, and I think the fans and Pep deserved it,” Christiansen said.

“You put it on the balance sheet and what a win.

“Matheus had a tough start to his City career but he has kept churning away. He got the vital assist against Everton at the weekend and the winner tonight in the moment where his team needed him.

WATCH: Extended highlights: City 2-1 Aston Villa

“He showed that bit of composure

“Villa were class and played their part as they go for the game and make it open.

“And it almost didn’t go to City’s advantage as we didn’t have too much on the counter-attack until Pep made the change with Doku.

“Just that threat with his pace put a little bit of doubt in Villa’s mind.

“City were up against a team in form, a team that had flourished in Europe and which has been brilliant all season

“So for City to find that bit of resilience, grit, character and determination [speaks volumes].

“We can speak a lot about tactics until the cows come home but character is massive, and we saw it everywhere on the pitch on Tuesday night.”

WATCH: Nunes: It's an amazing feeling to win like this

For Joleon Lescott, Christiansen’s fellow special guest on Tuesday night’s MDL show, the true significance of the victory lay in the fact it made City masters of our own destiny in terms of the top-five battle.

“In terms of the table, it’s now all in our hands,” the former City and England central defender pointed out

“Your objective is to be in control of your destiny and if we win two of the remaining four games, with other teams at the top having to play each other you’d like to think [that might do it].

“We are the only team that can win all the available points as the others have to play each other.”