Pep Guardiola is honored to play in Goodison Park after the 2-0 victory of Manchester City on Everton on Saturday.
The side of Guardiola, who struggled for a large part of the game for rhythm and fluent, was made to wait until the 84th minute for their opening goal.
Younger Nico O'Reilly broke the impasse with a close-range finish after the center of Matheus Nunes, while Mateo Kovacic sealed the points with a nice finish in the stopping time.
Everton created a number of good chances of their own chances, mainly through the head efforts of James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite, but was ultimately unable to find the back of the net, with the Toffees resigning since January to their first home Premier League loss.
Goodison Park will now only organize two more games before Everton leaves the stadium, which has been their home since 1892.
“It was really, really an honor to come to Goodison Park here for many years,” said Guardiola.
“Today I was on the field [before the game] Looking at the screen, view all goals [at Goodison Park over the years] And I said: 'Wow! This is English football! “”
Goodison Park is a stadium where Guardiola has had great success. In his nine visits during his time in the Premier League, he won eight times and only lost once, with a total score of 20-8 in those meetings.
He retains a profit percentage of 88.89%, with 2.67 points per match.
His only defeat came to the ground in 2017 in his first visit, when Everton won 4-0.
Guardiola said: “My friend Ronald Koeman destroyed me the first time I came here in a 4-0, with [Romelu] Lukaku [playing for Everton]. I remember perfectly.
“The beginning of an incredible adventure that we live and have lived almost a decade.”
Kevin De Bruyne, who is also ready to have made his last performance at Goodison, received applause from the ground when he went off in the 88th minute.
“I would like him to stay more time on the field. When I made the replacement, he has to walk, stay there and enjoy that moment,” said Guardiola.
” [from home]The recognition for Kevin in this country is and will be huge.
“Because he gave a lot, a lot of joy, the Premier League made better and he behaved incredibly as a sportsman.”
@Pepteam pic.twitter.com/wwl3cufim9
– Manchester City (@Mancity) April 19, 2025
O'Reilly, who only scored his first senior goal last weekend in the 5-2 victory of Citystal Palace, took care of the breakthrough for City, and the young person has been a real clear spark in recent months.
“I saw the space, so I only thought” run opposite “because I knew we had coverage at the back,” O'Reilly, who plays on the left of the back, told Sky Sports.
“Fortunately, Nunes flashed over it and I was there to finish it.
“My defense and positioning while defending is absolutely improving. Every day I am just learning, and I am grateful for that.”
O'Reilly had a hand in six goals during his last six performances for City in all competitions (four goals, two assists).
“A disappointing end. We have done a lot of good things, but didn't have enough to get us over the line.”
The boss gives his response to #evemci. pic.twitter.com/taghsjeecw
– Everton (@EVerton) April 19, 2025
Moyes meanwhile mentioned an injury in the second half of Tarkowski as a turning point in the game.
“We may have driven a bit out of SAP in the second half,” Moyes told BBC Sport.
“Losing James was a blow to us. We played very well for 60 minutes and then just ran a bit in the last 30 minutes.
“They have quality and more to drop off the bank. We had done them well to destroy them.
“I was disappointed about the goal we admitted. We gave a sloppy pass away and then did not defend the box well enough.”
Although Everton has been in strong form among Moyes to rise from danger, they have only won two of their last 10 in the competition (D6 L2), with both victories on the road.
City is now unbeaten in their last 16 Premier League matches against Everton (W13 D3).