Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola spoke to the media following his side’s 3-3 draw with Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium<\/p>\n
10:15, 05 May 2026Updated 23:28, 05 May 2026<\/p>\n
Pep Guardiola hailed the atmosphere at Hill Dickinson Stadium following Manchester City\u2019s first trip to Everton<\/a>\u2019s new home while detailing the intense physical battle he felt his side had to go through to snatch a point in their dramatic 3-3 draw.<\/p>\n After falling behind to Jeremy Doku\u2019s 43rd minute strike, David Moyes<\/a>\u2019 men turned the contest on its head in a wild second half as substitute Thierno Barry<\/a> bagged a brace (68, 81) either side of Jake O\u2019Brien<\/a> heading the Blues in front.<\/p>\n However, the home side were left to rue some big misses by Iliman Ndiaye<\/a> as Erling Haaland (83) reduced arrears soon after their second goal and with just seconds remaining, Doku netted his second goal of the evening to secure a share of the spoils.<\/p>\n READ MORE: David Moyes shock Everton decision pays off as transformed Thierno Barry deserves reprieve<\/a>READ MORE: Furious Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall slams Bernardo Silva ‘wrestling move’ as Everton denied penalty<\/a><\/p>\n Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Guardiola spoke of his affection for Goodison Park by remarking: \u201cThe old Everton stadium was so cool and so British, and I loved to go there, but I\u2019m looking forward to go to the new stadium.\u201d<\/p>\n Following that initial visit, he told the ECHO: \u201cIt\u2019s beautiful, congratulations. They are rich.<\/p>\n \u201cIt [the atmosphere compared to Goodison] was quite similar, they were proper. Proper English football, an English game.<\/p>\n \u201cProper, really, really good. A \u2018men game\u2019… definitely.\u201d<\/p>\n The 55-year-old added: \u201cThis stadium is not easy, it never has been at Everton. They have had a really good season, I think they defend really well, they defend the byline with six or seven players on the crosses.<\/p>\n \u201c[James] Tarkowski<\/a> and [Michael] Keane<\/a> never shoot across, they are always there. The gaps between central defenders and full-backs are always occupied for the holding midfielders that they defend proper on the duels and [Jordan] Pickford<\/a> is an incredible deliverer of the long balls.<\/p>\n FOLLOW OUR EVERTON FC FACEBOOK PAGE!<\/strong> Latest EFC news and analysis from via the Liverpool Echo\u2019s dedicated FB page<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n \u201cEven when they have eight or nine players in the box, we arrived, we create and make the last pass. In these type of games when you are 1-0 in the Premier League<\/a> away in the position, they make an incredible step up in the duels.<\/p>\n \u201cI say how good they were, how they fought all the time.\u201d<\/p>\n Guardiola also elaborated on how physical he felt Everton played and bemoaned the decision to award the hosts a corner from which Jake O\u2019Brien headed in their second goal to put them in front. He said: \u201cIt\u2019s better to get a point than no point. It would have been better to win the game like we needed to.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was difficult in the opening, with the incredible, incredible aggressive way that they play. We were composed and the first half was exceptional. In the second, we played with a good process but maybe not with the intention that we had in the first half.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter that, we gave away the first goal, which is football. Then the corner, which was not a corner.<\/p>\n \u201cThey are so good, David Moyes has always been so good on set-pieces. After that, the game was open and on transition they had chances.<\/p>\n \u201cWe had the momentum to make an incredible second goal while the third goal was outstanding, so we take a point. I know it was in our hands, and now it\u2019s not but now we have Brentford on Saturday and we\u2019ll see what happens.<\/p>\n