Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Manchester: Alexis Sanchez’s 68th-minute equaliser dealt a potentially fatal blow to Manchester City’s Champions League qualification hopes as Arsenal claimed a 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
In his final home game as City manager before handing over to Pep Guardiola, Manuel Pellegrini saw Kevin de Bruyne put the hosts in front after Sergio Aguero’s early opener was cancelled out by Olivier Giroud.
But Sanchez’s strike means that Pellegrini is now dependent on fifth-place Manchester United dropping points in their last two games — or Arsenal losing at home to Aston Villa — if his side are to finish in the top four.
Having seen his team tamely concede defeat against Real Madrid in the Champions League semifinals on Wednesday, it threatens to be a miserable end to Pellegrini’s three-year tenure, which has yielded the 2013-14 Premier League title and two League Cups.
United visit West Ham United on Tuesday before finishing the season at home to Bournemouth and if they win both games, and Arsenal avoid defeat against bottom club Villa, Guardiola will begin life at City as a Europa League manager.
For Arsenal, victory over Villa in next Sunday’s final game will secure a Champions League berth for the 19th season running and they could yet finish above local rivals Tottenham Hotspur, who they trail by two points.
But there was a concern for Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, and his England counterpart Roy Hodgson, in the shape of a first-half injury to Danny Welbeck.
The match programme contained a message from Emirati club chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak thanking Pellegrini and hailing his “engaging approach, integrity and humility”.
In his own notes, Pellegrini describing managing City as a “privilege.” City failed to register a single shot on target in their meek 1-0 Champions League semi-final defeat at Real Madrid, but after a sprightly start they went ahead in the eighth minute.
Jesus Navas’s cross from the right was nodded back and down by Fernandinho and Aguero eluded Mohamed Elneny before driving a left-foot shot into Petr Cech’s bottom-left corner.
Klopp is satisfied with Sunday stroll
In Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp was happy enough with his side’s low-key 2-0 victory over Watford at Anfield after goals from Joe Allen and Roberto Firmino. This contest failed to capture the imagination as both teams have virtually finished caring about the Premier League this season.
Watford are mathematically safe after a wonderful season, whereas Liverpool are focused on the Europa League final against Sevilla in Basel on May 18.
