Stoke City were comfortably beaten 2-0 by Champions-elect Manchester City on Monday night but it appears all is not lost… according to Pep Guardiola.
Stoke sit second bottom of the Premier League table with eight games remaining after the 2-0 defeat to City.
The Potters are just a point off safety as things stand but also have the worst goal difference of -28 which could come into play in an increasingly congested battle for survival.
A brilliant brace from City wizard David Silva would have undone most sides but Stoke did not cave in as many had predicted they might given their previous tendency to do just that this season.
Paul Lambert admitted his side was almost powerless to stop a City side which is as good as he has seen in many years.
And despite the defeat there is hope for Stoke after Lambert revealed to Sky Sports that Guardiola commended them on their display.
“He was very complimentary to ourselves,” Lambert told Sky Sports after the game.
“I’ve met him before and he was complimentary to ourselves with the spirit that we have shown.
“And obviously we’ve got to congratulate them on the way they play the game.”
Stoke face a tough run of games against Everton, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur before crucial games against West Ham and Burnley which could go a long way to deciding their fate.
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