The win means The Citizens continue their ideal start to the season with four wins from four, while United could drop to fifth by the end of the weekend as Everton and Hull City lurk behind them with a game in hand. The second half was completely different. United were unsafe on the counter, and Marcus Rashford had a goal denied because Ibrahimovic was in an offside position and interfered with the play.
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“I thought, because of the characteristics of the game, I thought we could hurt them playing with some individuals with some qualities”.
“And in the second half, very pleased with many things, disappointed with the result and disappointed two very important decisions from Mark that were against us”. “And mistakes from the referee are football too”.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic handed Jose Mourinho’s team a lifeline just before the break with a very well taken finish, but City held firm in the face of an aerial onslaught in the second-half to maintain their unbeaten start to the season.
“Claudio Bravo is a penalty and a red card – if one of my players do that in the middle of the park -if [Marouane] Fellaini or Rooney do that in the middle of the park – it’s a red card and a free-kick”, the Portuguese said.
The City boss grabbed the ball as it went out of play and Rooney, looking to take a throw quickly, was unhappy Guardiola did not immediately hand it over to him, with a brief struggle between the two ensuing.
A delighted Guardiola praised his team’s first-half performance and jumped to the defence of former Barcelona keeper Bravo. By the time City crossed into the United half, the likes of De Bruyne and David Silva were in full flow with the Red Devils stretching to control them. “When you make a situation for the goal – after that he continued to play in our build-up and [went] for other long balls to pick them up”.
“I didn’t expect the shot, I didn’t expect it to hit the post and come back, but I’m happy to be in the right place and to score”.
“What Claudio did today was one of the best performances I’ve ever seen”, Guardiola told Sky Sports. In truth, it was nothing more than City deserved in a commanding first-half display.
“The second penalty is Otamendi handball, which I believe that some of you will say “that’s not a penalty”. I would have done it after 20 minutes.
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“Until my last day in England I will try to play with the ball as much as possible”.
