City heading for. . . SILVA WARE!
MANCHESTER city moved a significant step closer to retaining their Premier League title after two second- half goals sealed victory in the Manchester derby last night.
Pep Guardiola’s side moved a point clear of Liverpool at the top of the table by winning their crucial game in hand after goals by Bernardo Silva and Leroy Sane — aided by some poor goalkeeping by David de Gea.
city boss Guardiola said: ‘It’s in our hands. It’s incredible what we have done so far. Both Liverpool and us deserve the title. the team that loses should not have regret.
‘We still have so much to do. People will say we are beautiful and
handsome but now we have to go to Burnley and its incredibly difficult.
‘Recovering from going out of the champions League was the hardest thing for the players. You can’t imagine our frustration. How difficult was that?
‘the champions League is beautiful and we thought it was there for us. It does hurt and to stay alive after that in the Premier League is great because the pressure we felt was huge.’
city will expect Liverpool to leapfrog them again when they host relegated Huddersfield tomorrow night, but they are now undoubtedly in the box seat.
‘We’re fortunate that it’s in our hands so we depend on our own performances — if we win our last three games, we are champions and that is what we’re going to try to do,’ Guardiola added.
there was also a triumphant tweet from Raheem Sterling, who said: ‘Victories in the derby always have a special taste, even more tonight !!! Proud of the boys.’
For United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, there was at least some consolation that his team responded in part to the 4-0 mauling they got against Everton at Goodison Park on Sunday.
Solskjaer said: ‘that’s what you sign up for when you play for Manchester United, the expectations and history, but we are where we are and I’ve spoken about going step by step to make sure we’re on the right track.
‘But we can’t linger along for many years as the Premier League is so competitive you’ll suddenly be caught up. You learn about players more and you see if they go into a comfort zone or who will be willing to sacrifice themselves to take us forward.
‘You see today the hunger with some of the lads. You could see what it meant to many of them.
‘You can’t say, “It’s Everton and we don’t have to run the same as them”. today was a different defeat. By the quality city had they deserved the win. On Sunday we let ourselves down.’
But there was a no-nonsense warning from former United captain Roy Keane on Sky, who said: ‘I wouldn’t be feeling sorry for Ole, he’s manager of Manchester United. the honeymoon period is over.’