Update: Everton away changed Man City last season – Pep Guardiola needs repeat News

Manchester City needed to use Everton as a springboard last year and the same is true heading into their last Goodison trip

For all Manchester City have dropped this season, it isn’t like they had been flawless when they had been winning everything in previous years.

The Treble came shortly after one of the worst ever performances under Pep Guardiola away to Southampton, while a fourth Premier League title in a row looked unlikely at the halfway point when they looked to be lacking in commitment and motivation.

The last league game before Everton had led to an almighty dressing down from the manager after they conceded two late goals to draw at home to Crystal Palace. “Phil, in the f***ing 18-yard box, you don’t touch the opponent. It’s unacceptable, Phil Foden, unacceptable!,” Guardiola said.

“You are to apologise. You are teenagers. I say something when we drop points against Tottenham and Liverpool? I say something? Tell me. I blame you? I say something? Here [pointing at his head], use it. Here, you have to use it! f***ing hell. f***ing hell.”

Guardiola had to field questions about how many points City could be behind the leaders when they returned from the Club World Cup, and they headed off to Saudi Arabia in desperate need of a turnaround. It happened, and the manager was convinced there had been a change when he heard his players on the plane home talking about what they needed to do to beat Everton.

Still, they were staring at more woe at half-time with Everton 1-0 up and John Stones off injured before a second-half resurgence led by Foden gave evidence to Guardiola’s theory. His team had finally arrived.

This season’s standards are lower yet Guardiola believes his team are almost where they need to be. A change has been noticed on the training pitch since the players returned from the March international break and they have picked up important wins against Bournemouth and Palace.

A win at Everton would be the clearest indication yet that City have what it takes to get over the line in the race for Champions League qualification. David Moyes has taken points off two sides above City in Everton’s last two games with a draw with Arsenal and a win at Forest, so they are no mugs.

If City can repeat the feelgood victory from last season, it will give them another three precious points and set them up perfectly for the visit of Aston Villa on Tuesday. Having given it all in their quarter-final clash with PSG, they will be desperate to be back in the competition next year so City need to head into that fixture on a high.

In their last ever visit to Goodison Park, the Blues cannot afford any room for sentiment if they are to become the team Guardiola has been waiting for all this time.

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