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Pep Guardiola describes Liverpool draw as 'one of the proudest days of my managerial career'

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Pep Guardiola: Draw with Liverpool one of the proudest days of my managerial career

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola hailed his side's 1-1 draw with Liverpool as one of the proudest days of his managerial career.

In an enthralling encounter, both sides threw caution to the wind to attack rather than defend and despite gilt-edge chances for Raheem Sterling and David Silva for the hosts, the match remained goalless at the break.

The deadlock was broken six minutes after the restart when James Milner scored from the penalty spot following Gael Clichy's clumsy challenge on Sadio Mane.

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Highlights: Man City 1-1 Liverpool

But Sergio Aguero denied Liverpool all three points when he swept in Kevin De Bruyne's inviting cross to level on 69 minutes before Adam Lallana and Aguero missed glorious chances at opposite ends to steal victory.

The Spaniard told Sky Sports: "You cannot imagine. This is one of the proudest days of my career as a manager.

"After our defeat in the Champions League, for two days we were so, so sad and in the training sessions we didn't talk too much.

"We arrive here against Liverpool, who haven't had European football all year and had all week to prepare for that game, and how we fight and how we run and how we showed spirit - today is one of the happiest days of my life as a manager.

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Sergio Aguero scores the second-half equaliser for Manchester City
Image: Sergio Aguero scores the second-half equaliser for Manchester City

"The way we play, we concede chances but we create a lot of chances. Like all matches, we create more chances but this is our problem, our problem is we don't score goals."

Guardiola went on to praise his side's resilience in showing a fighting performance just days after being knocked out of the Champions League, and re-iterated that he always wants to play attacking football.

"With the conditions we played that game, after being [knocked] out of the Champions League and playing against Liverpool, one of the best teams, and how we played against them means a lot to me - so that is why I am happy with my players.

"We always play to win, we always play to attack, we always play to respect our spectators and of course, we are sad because we didn't win."

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