Alack of composure at both ends of the pitch is costing Manchester City points, according to their manager Pep Guardiola. City, held to a 1-1 home draw by Middlesbrough on Saturday, have won one of their last five Premier League games to slip to third in the table behind Liverpool and Chelsea. "Sometimes when you miss a point it's a shame... we're attacking with 10 guys and we don't let (opponents) run," Guardiola told reporters. "We have to insist on playing that way but we have to be better in the boxes. When that happens the game will be 2-0 and the game will be over."
Having taken a first-half lead through Sergio Aguero against Middlesbrough, City dominated possession, but spurned chances to make the game safe before Marten de Roon's stoppage-time header condemned the hosts to their third consecutive league draw at the Etihad Stadium. "We control the attack, outside and inside the box and we get to the second balls," Guardiola said. "Of course, in 90 minutes, there has to be some point when the opponent can arrive in your box and what happens here is that they punish you," the Spaniard added. "Here, the games are always open because they put the long balls on to the strikers. They are playing for free kicks and throw-ins to make the most of the minimal mistake."Middlesbrough fans were ecstatic after a late draw with Pep Guardiola's Manchester City, so much so that they began a chant about Victor Valdes.
The celebrated Catalan keeper was reunited with his former coach, though this time as opponents, and even a gash on his knee couldn't keep him away from the action. "Victor Valdes, he has won more than you," chanted the Boro fans at City. In fact, Valdes has won three Champions Leagues, two UEFA Super Cups, two FIFA Club World Cups, six leagues, and nine national cups and supercups. The Citizens, for their part, have only won one Cup Winner's Cup, four league titles, and 13 total national cups (FA Cup and EFL Cup). Ironically, Valdes has also won more than Boro itself, though that didn't seem to bother any of the supporters nor did that ruin their fun.
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