City held on as United paid for an undercooked first half, with De Bruyne turning a fine start into a 15th-minute opener.
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“I know it’s a risk”. Pressing the goalkeeper, the new Manchester City signing went for the dribble, which almost cost him a penalty and possible a red card, with only a saved-by-the-bell tackle on Rooney preventing another disaster. Pogba is a box-to-box guy, who requires freedom to move about in midfield. “Claudio Bravo is a penalty and a red card”. The second one is also a penalty.
His mood – if not his demeanour – would have improved with Zlatan Ibrahimovic making it 2-1 towards the end of the first half and his side playing better after the break following a change in personnel, before the final whistle confirmed it as a disappointing day for the Portuguese. Both played poorly and were replaced at half-time. “I think he is marvellous and he is working very well”, Mourinho said after the game. Every duel went for them. It’s always my fault because it’s my choice. We are three points off top and we want to be champions.
‘It wasn’t just about them, it was much more than Miki and Jesse. Not because it’s THE derby but because it promises to be the setting for some real classics that will be played out over the years.
The Belgium worldwide then kept a cool head to curl the ball past David De Gea for City’s opener. I love my job because I am with them.
‘Some of the boys felt the dimension of the game – everything around the derby, United versus Man City, the focus, the attention. “Some of the guys, they felt it”. It’s about how the individual reacts to the dimension of the occasion.
The Manchester United wants to take a quick throw in, but Pep won’t let him.
‘That’s football, and mistakes from the referee are football too’.
“They are completely different situations”, Mourinho told Sky Sports.
But then came a key moment in the game, one which could have added to Bravo’s misery, when the keeper scraped his studs down Rooney’s shin in a challenge for a 50-50 ball. I spend my time with my players. Bravo was a bundle of nerves throughout the 90 minutes – some would even say he was lucky to stay on the pitch, after a horrendous two-footed tackle on Wayne Rooney.
Bacary Sagna’s audacious volleyed attempt epitomised that and the visiting support were celebrating their second of afternoon in the 36th minute.
City came in for praise from both pundits. He said, “He was here a few years ago, he knows the Premier League, what it is all about, he knows the club, and that has helped; he has adapted and settled extremely quickly”.
“It was about being in the right place at the right time and I’m so happy I had the chance to score”.
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“What Claudio did today was one of the best performances I’ve ever seen”, said the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss.
