JOSE BLAMES REFEREE AS CITY EXTEND LEAD
MANCHESTER DERBY ENDS WITH GUARDIOLA’S SIDE 11 POINTS CLEAR AT TOP OF TABLE
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho claimed his side were denied a “clear penalty” as they lost 2-1 to Manchester City.
Goals from David Silva and Nicolas Otamendi gave City a 14th straight Premier League win and increased their lead at the top to 11 points, but Mourinho felt his side should have been awarded a spot-kick when Ander Hererra went down under a challenge from Otamendi.
Referee Michael Oliver booked Herrera for diving and left Mourinho with a distraction after his side were outplayed at Old Trafford.
“Clear penalty. I am sorry for us and sorry for Michael, I think he had a good performance but it was a clear penalty,” the Portuguese said.
“The referee made a mistake, which can happen. Last season we had a similar situation here against Man City. We were winning 2-1 and Mr Clattenburg didn’t see the penalty – (Claudio) Bravo on (Wayne) Rooney – and this one also.
“I am sorry for Michael Oliver because he had a good performance. The referee had a good match but he made one mistake and his mistake was crucial to the outcome of the match.”
With United’s deficit now into double figures, City are clear favourites to lift the Premier League title in May.
Mourinho says his side will continue to fight.
He added: “They are a very good team. I think they are lucky, they had all the decisions in their favour but Tuesday is another day in the Premier League and I am pretty sure all of us, us in second, Chelsea in third, and fourth and fifth and sixth, everyone is going to try to fight for points and try and reduce the distance.
“Of course, their advantage is a very good one.”
The much-anticipated 175th Manchester derby was comfortably the biggest game of the Premier League seasonbut the untimely end to United’s club record-equalling 40-match unbeaten home run strengthens their rivals’ grip on the title after just 16 matches - of which they have won the last 14 in a row.
That is a new top-flight record run within the same season and an outcome that looked likely after Silva gave City a deserved first-half lead, with the playmaker capitalising on a corner that had deflected off Romelu Lukaku.
United fortuitously went into the break level after Rashford capitalised on a Fabian Delph mistake, but the blue half of the city were not to be denied as Lukaku’s hashed clearance allowed Otamendi to volley home early in the second half.
Ederson Moraes produced an outstanding double save as the hosts tried to snatch a draw, but City move onto 46 points as a result of a victory that leaves Mourinho’s men reeling.