Manchester City’s Premier League title celebrations were put on hold as Manchester United produced a stunning comeback to win their derby clash 3-2 at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
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After City had taken a 2-0 lead at half-time, the Reds staged a storming turnaround as a Paul Pogba double and a brilliantly-taken victor from Chris Smalling secured a stunning 3-2 win.
“I don’t speak to him about what Pep told and Raiola told”, United manager Jose Mourinho said. In any event, sources have since said United would never consider selling Pogba to their local rivals.
Guardiola, also a former manager of German giants Bayern Munich, has himself splashed out almost 600 million euros in his time in northwest England, but he defended the level of spending. “I am not interested if it was Pep right or Mino right”. Then after the second goal it was important for the players to stay confident.
“He needs that confidence because he knows, I know he had some performances not at the level of expectation we have from Paul”.
Pogba’s inconsistency will infuriate Mourinho, who has dropped the £89m man on numerous occasions this season. So. if it’s true that his agent offered him to some clubs now the price is. gone up.
“They were two fantastic goals”, Mourinho told Sky Sports.
But the England defender, who made amends with a brilliant strike after Paul Pogba’s quickfire double, said: ‘I owed them that. For United, they have fully fit squad with Phil Jones (hamstring), Marcos Rojo and Ander Herrera all returning to training.
Guardiola brought on the Argentine after Smalling’s goal, but there was to be no repeat heroics from Aguero, though he did force a wonderful one-handed save from De Gea with a header. You could see the relief after the first goal and I’m just glad to contribute’.
“With more freedom, I can make those runs inside the box”, Pogba further added as Henry nodded his assent.
City, needing to win to wrap up the English top-flight title with more games to spare than any other side in history, seemed to be coasting to the landmark, leading their neighbours 2-0 at the break with goals from Vincent Kompany and Ilkay Gundogan.
But two Paul Pogba goals inside the opening 10 minutes of the second half, followed by Chris Smalling’s 69th-minute volley, won the game for United and inflicted on City a first home league defeat since December 2016.
“I don’t think the players have lost focus”. “Honestly, I don’t think so”.
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United are 15 points clear of fifth-placed Chelsea, albeit having played one game more, while they have established a four-point lead on Liverpool in the quest to finish second. “They give no chance to the others, we are doing a better season than last season but it’s not enough”.
