The City manager’s comments were interpreted in some quarters as an attempt to unsettle Pogba heading into his team’s clash with United, but the Frenchman had the last laugh as he scored twice to help the Red Devils to a 3-2 win.
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After the game, Pogba once again made the most of his opportunity, and ran over to the fans immediately following the final whistle.
United would be next in action against Bournemouth on April 18 but, irrespective of that result, victory for City over Swansea on April 22 would see them crowned champions.
“It is normal that sometimes they come with a little touch on each other but I was not anxious about it, I was not upset with it and I didn’t speak with Paul about it”.
And it was the team’s longest-serving player who came through with the opener.
And he was a fundamental influence in a dominant second half for Man United, furiously tearing across the pitch and continuously winning the ball off blue shirts.
“If they can repeat that against Liverpool it will give us a huge lift”. Two goals in five first-half minutes had the story of the day written, Guardiola’s men were to be crowned Premier League against their derby rivals.
‘Nicely, I might inform you many, many explanation why we did not win at present, ‘ Danilo informed CityTV. However, as we all know now, that soon changed in the second half. By halftime, City looked to have wrapped up the league title in record time with a 2-0 lead, shredding United apart with goals from captain Vincent Kompany and Ilkay Gundogan in a six-minute span.
“It’s hard to play against City because they press really well and are compact and their transition is really strong”.
Many players have single-handedly won pivotal games for United over the years.
Paul Pogba, the French midfielder, had been poor in the opening 45 minutes but it was his two goals that put United back in the game.
However, by fighting back United consolidated their place in second, four points clear of Liverpool, and sent a message that they can compete with City next season.
Guardiola added more spice to an already hotly-anticipated clash when he claimed on Friday he had been offered the chance to buy Pogba two months ago by the player’s agent Mino Raiola.
Danilo believes Manchester City can not allow the disappointment of their capitulation against Manchester United to fester given the scale of their Champions League challenge against Liverpool.
“In this level against these rivals, when you have chances you have to score two or three”.
“We are sad for our fans, but we still have 84 points and now we have to be courageous to stand up again and focus on Liverpool”.
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And Sky Sports pundit Neville said Pogba, an £89 million signing, needed to make that sort of impact on a regular basis to be considered an Old Trafford success.
