Losing to City would have been ‘like death’

Paul Pogba declared it would have been “like death” for Manchester City to have taken the Premier League title by beating their old rivals as he struck twice in Manchester United’s remarkable second-half comeback.

Pogba’s two goals, and Chris Smalling’s winner, mean City may have to wait two weeks to become champions, despite leading 2-0 at half-time through Vincent Kompany and Ilkay Gundogan. Pogba was approached by Pep Guardiola on the pitch after the match, although the City manager said later he was congratulating him, not discussing his claim that the Frenchman was made available for sale to his club in January.

Pogba had tweeted “Say what?” in response on Friday, but after this 3-2 win said that United had been determined to halt City’s title party. Pogba told Sky Sports: “I didn’t want to lose against City. The loss from last season is still in my mind. If they won, they are champions, for all the fans it would be

Tough talk: Jose Mourinho told his United players not to be ‘clowns’ watching City take the title

like death. To lose against City and to see them celebrate, I couldn’t let that happen. At half-time, we said, ‘We have nothing to lose, 2-0, let’s do it’.

“After a second half like this, we have to do that all the time. If we did we would be up there [in the league] with City, and maybe even in front.”

Mourinho said that either Guardiola or agent Mino Raiola was lying about Pogba being made available by United. Mourinho said: “Guardiola says that, the agent denies, so one of them is saying the truth and one of them is not telling the truth. Honestly, I am not interested in knowing which one is the liar and which one is the honest guy.”

Smalling said that at half-time, Mourinho had told his players not to be “the clowns standing there watching them [City] get their title”.

Guardiola was disappointed for City fans. “Of course we wanted to win,” he said. “I am not going to deny that, but we know exactly which team we played. They are second in the league. I am sorry for the fans, but I think they cannot have complaints about what we have done. When I analyse the game it was good. I cannot expect the opponent is not going to do anything.”