With Mourinho facing Guardiola for the first time the pair managed Real Madrid and Barcelona in 2012, the United manager dismissed suggestions that the game will be about them rather than the teams on the pitch.
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Ibrahimovic has scored three league goals for United so far this season.
Manchester City’s Claudio Bravo, left, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan at Old Trafford, Manchester, September 10.
Manchester City beat Manchester United 2-1 to extend their ideal start to the Premier League season and end that of their local rivals in an entertaining and action-packed encounter at Old Trafford.
City were 2-0 up and utterly dominant when the Chilean came out to collect a routine free kick from the right and dropped the ball on the edge of the box into the path of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who gratefully volleyed home.
Jose Mourinho blamed himself for Manchester United’s awful derby start that cost the Reds against City. I think in the first half we deserved to be losing and in the second half we don’t deserve to be losing. “Some of the boys, they felt the dimension of the game”.
“It means a little bit more because it’s a big game. Some of the guys, they felt it”. Guardiola moved the Swede out while at Barcelona and Ibrahimovic appears to be doing his best to continue a simmering feud, with attacks on the Spaniard’s management style in his autobiography that have been widely publicised over the past few days.
Guardiola greeted Mourinho with a handshake and a hug before kickoff. I try not to get too emotional and instead just try to play my game. This news story is related to Latest/149309-Soccer-First-blood-Guardiola-De-Bruyne-inspires-City/ – breaking news, latest news, pakistan ne.
The Spaniard’s side hit the ground running against a nervous United side and were ahead after 11 minutes when Kevin De Bruyne slotted past David De Gea.
Guardiola has also attempted to play down his supposed feud with José Mourinho, saying he will join the United manager for a drink after the game if Mourinho makes the offer.
Turning into space in the box he shot across the face of goal and struck the inside of the post. City, meanwhile, replace Iheanacho with midfielder Fernando.
Asked if he was disappointed by the first half or encouraged by the second, Mourinho said: “Both”. After Saturday’s defeat, coupled with a last-gasp win at Hull, it’s clear that United remain a work in progress.
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Luke Shaw and AntonioValencia both start at full back despite concerns over their fitness, Chris Smalling remains on the bench alongside Morgan Schneiderlin and Marcus Rashford, whilst big-name arrivals Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic unsurprisingly start. “These guys have heart”.
