Pep Guardiola during Manchester City's 2-2 draw with Brentford. Pep Guardiola during Manchester City's 2-2 draw with Brentford.

Pep Guardiola said that missing key players played its part in Manchester City's late capitulation against Brentford on Tuesday. (More Sports News)1xbet

Phil Foden, who scored a hat-trick at the Gtech Community Stadium last term, scored twice after the break to put the visitors on course for a fourth straight win in all competitions.

But late goals from Yoane Wissa and Christian Norgaard salvaged a point for the Bees, who halted their own losing streak on home soil. 

City have now dropped 14 points from winning positions in the Premier League this season, their highest ever total in a league campaign under Guardiola (previously 13 in 2020-21 & 2022-23).

Now, the top four teams have entered the semifinals and the last two teams will have to fight for the fifth spot on the table. India have won all of their five matches. Pakistan are second with two wins and two draws.

South Korea, meanwhile, are placed fourth in the standings with 6 points, with one win, three draws, and one loss. They were surpassed by China, who secured 2 wins and as many points. Korea’s season began with a 5-5 draw against Japan, followed by a 2-2 draw with Pakistan, their first victory with a 3-2 win over China, 3-1 loss at the hands of India and a 3-3 draw against Malaysia in their final pool match.

It was also the first time since a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace in 2023 that the Citizens had failed to win a top-flight game in which they led by two or more goals, having won 22 consecutive such matches prior to Tuesday. 

And Guardiola, who was missing injured trio Ruben Dias, John Stones and Rodri, believed that their absence was pivotal in their collapse in the closing stages of the contest. 

"With the absence of the central defenders, Rodri,ph11 casino with many things, we are not [at our best] and we didn't take the right decisions. 

"We have another type of player right now, and at the end, we could not defend that situation. 

"They put six, seven players in the box, crosses, and sometimes they are better, so there are more players, they are taller, they are stronger in (heading).

"It's fine, it's not a good place to go. Unfortunately, we couldn't win."

Guardiola was also able to detail the conversation he had with Stefan Ortega following the conclusion of the game. 

The Spaniard was seen extremely animated when engaging in conversation with his goalkeeper, who got a strong hand on Norgaard's late leveller. 

"I said how good he played in actions with the ball, how good his pass (was) to Erling (Haaland), how happy and satisfied I am," Guardiola explained.

Despite his positive words about Ortega, Guardiola expressed his disappointment after throwing away more valuable points in their quest to finish in the top four. 

"We're a bit disappointed but at 2-0 up we didn't manage to hold on to the lead, and unfortunately we couldn't close the game," Guardiola said. 

"Today we didn't take the right decisions in the final third. I had the feeling that we didn't take the right decisions in the final third to close the game."

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City's next Premier League clash sees them travel to Portman Road to take on Ipswich Town1xbet, who are in action against Brighton on Thursday.