Pep Guardiola admitted Manchester City they got what they deserved after they were stunned by Brentford at the Etihad.
In the clubs’ final match before the World Cup, Ivan Toney put the Bees in front as the visitors made a flying start, before Phil Foden netted a brilliant equaliser just before the break. City spent much of the second-half camped in the Brentford half, but Toney put the finishing touch on a 98th-minute counter-attack to give Thomas Frank’s side a famous 2-1 win.
It means Arsenal are guaranteed to spend Christmas top of the Premier League table, with City potentially spending the upcoming break five points off the Gunners.
Despite the last-gasp nature of Brentford’s winner, Guardiola had no complaints about the result as his side fell to just their second defeat of the season.
“The best team won, we struggled from the beginning and we couldn’t deal with their long balls,” Guardiola said.
“Usually you press the balls to win it but this was different. They defended so deep and so well. The game was so difficult, it was so tight.
“They did really well in the plan they had and were better.
“We have done exceptional in the Champions League and well in the Premier League. We’ll come back and prepare for the second-half of the season now.”
Toney’s match-winning brace came two days after he missed out on England’s World Cup squad, with Gareth Southgate opting to take Callum Wilson to Qatar instead.
The Brentford forward insisted that proving the England boss wrong was not added motivation, as he vowed to not let that decision impact his club form.
“Obviously a disappointment, but I know what I’m capable of,” Toney told BT Sport. “I won’t let it put me down. Just keep going and doing well for Brentford.
“The motivation is the boys in the dressing room and the fans. When we work hard, this is what we can do.”
