Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola blames the GRASS following failure to defeat Crystal Palace

Pep Guardiola has directed blame away from his Manchester City side following their failure to beat Crystal Palace, by finding fault with the playing surface as an excuse.

City stumbled to a 0-0 draw at Selhurst Park to leave them just four points clear of title rivals Liverpool but having played a game extra.

Despite dominating large periods of the game City were unable to find a way past Eagles keeper Vicente Guaita, with Guardiola insisting the imperfect grass played a role in denying the champions all three points.

Pep Guardiola praised his side’s performance despite their failure to claim victory

‘I think they [Palace] played good,’ Guardiola told Sky Sports.

‘There are still many games to play, we have to win a lot of games but the way we played, there’s no regrets about the team.

‘We would have preferred to win of course but the game was well played. We played to win the game, we created more, the stats were there.

‘The way we played was amazing in a difficult stadium with the grass not perfect, we were there all the time, we had a good game.’

Among the excuses for the 0-0 draw was blaming Selhurst Park’s imperfect playing surface

Pep Guardiola had a heated exchange with Vicente Guaita at Selhurst Park on Monday night

Guaita and Guardiola eventually made up and embraced before going their own ways

Following the final whistle there was a bizarre confrontation between Guaita and Guardiola.

After the match, Guardiola did not reveal what the animated exchange was about beyond ‘congratulating him for an incredible effort and his saves’.

Initially, Guardiola gave Guaita a pat on the back, before the goalkeeper seemed to say something which had the manager stop in his tracks.

Guaita continued to put his point across with Guardiola laughing at his Spanish compatriot.

The two then went face-to-face as Guardiola started waving his hands around as he responded to what Guaita was trying to tell him with both men seeming to be very happy.

They eventually did seem to settle their differences as they embraced before heading their separate ways.

Guardiola would have been frustrated after Guaita put in a fine performance against his side.

He made four saves, including a superb stop to prevent a Kevin De Bruyne volley hitting the back of the net.

City also hit the post twice, either side of half-time, while Bernardo Silva saw an effort go wide from close range.