Joel Ward can’t help but admire Manchester City after their 2-0 win over Crystal Palace

BY KAI BENNETT

Joel Ward hailed Manchester City’s quality after Crystal Palace lost 2-0 at Selhurst Park.

The visitors took another step towards the Premier League title with second-half goals from Sergio Aguero and Ferran Torres.

Ward told Palace TV: “For a large majority of the game we did well, we stuck to our task and made it difficult for them.

“The quality they possess going forward is a threat for any team, but for a large majority of the game we dealt with that as a unit. On another day maybe we could’ve come away with something.

“We played some good patterns of play. We’re exploiting teams where we can and there’s a good fluidity to our movement, it’s just we want to put the ball in the back of the net and capitalise on that. Hopefully going forward we can.

“[Manchester City] are phenomenal, where they are and what they do speaks for itself. That’s why they have dominated English football and world football at the moment.

“They have so much strength, depth and quality in their side, regardless if they change up the team or make wholesale changes, they have enough quality to hurt anyone.

“[Asked about how the challenge is different as a full-back] There is a lot of grey areas, just in the positions they pick it up in, they have always done that. Even when you look back to David Silva, he used to pick it up in those pockets where you’re hesitant to go because there’s another runner coming in behind. Their movement and different positions they pick up and once they get on the ball, they can pick out passes.

“As a unit we have to be switched on and the focus and concentration has to be there and today there was a lot of times that was the case. They’re going to get moments where they get their chances but for the large majority of it, we did really well. Aguero pops up, takes a touch and puts it into the top of the net and it’s those moments where it’s hard to take because you work so hard to nullify that.”