‘Liverpool and Arsenal could not win here’ – Guardiola hails Man City’s ‘massively important’ victory over Everton | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola says Arsenal and Liverpool’s failure to win at Goodison Park earlier this season shows how difficult it was for his Man City side to do so.

City left it late to beat Everton, with Nico O’Reilly scoring in the 84th minute before Mateo Kovacic added a second in stoppage time.

And the City boss was quick to stress how crucial, and difficult, of a victory it was for his team as they look to secure Champions League qualification.

“I would say it’s big,” he said.

“Liverpool could not win and Arsenal neither so massively important.

“Of course we are miles away from Liverpool and Arsenal but tonight we are fourth and we’ll see what happens with Nottingham Forest, Newcastle and Aston Villa, Chelsea with Fulham away.

“It’s in our hands. We have a final on Tuesday and three games at home, two away, and hopefully we can achieve this big success to qualify for the Champions League.”

O’Reilly continued his impressive breakthrough into the first team with another goal to add to his tally.

And Guardiola says he is hugely “grateful” for the job he has been able to do despite playing out of position at left-back.

“He’s an attacking midfielder,” he said.

“When he plays as a full-back and the game is quick with transitions he can’t arrive (in the box) but when we move it right and left with a lot of passes it gives him time to arrive.

“As an attacking midfielder he is always there. Against Plymouth (he had) two goals. Against Bournemouth (he scored). He’s helping us to qualify for the Champions League.

“It looks like in this team if you play left-back, you score goals. Josko (Gvardiol) before, now him, so really good, the impact.

“We are so grateful because he’s not a left-back.”