Pep: City need to be more clinical in front of goal
Manchester: Pep Guardiola says Manchester City need to “learn to be more clinical” after they made difficult work of reaching their third successive Carabao Cup final.
Guardiola’s side will face Aston Villa at Wembley on March 1 - despite losing the second leg of their semi-final against Manchester United, advancing 3-2 on aggregate.
Leading 3-1 from the first leg at Old Trafford, the holders pushed forward in search of a goal to put the tie to bed but could find no way past an inspired David de Gea.
Instead, United put things back in the balance before half-time when Nemanja Matic put them ahead on the night with their first effort at goal.
United had created nothing in open play but City could only half-clear Fred’s freekick and Matic swept a powerful first-time strike past Claudio Bravo.
“Over 180 minutes we were better than United,” said Guardiola.
“We created chances to score a lot of goals and didn’t convert. We need to learn to be more clinical.
“We played a side with incredible physicality. The goal was from a set-piece. The first time they shot on target. In both games, we were better.”
City tried to respond after going behind - and De Gea, who had brilliantly denied Sergio Aguero and Riyad Mahrez in the opening minutes, was finally beaten when Raheem Sterling turned in Kevin de Bruyne’s cross, but the flag was already up for offside.
The scoreline made for an anxious atmosphere at Etihad Stadium at the break and more United chances followed in the second half, with Harry Maguire heading over and Anthony Martial bringing a low save from Bravo but ultimately the visitors were unable to score a second.
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said: “I am so proud of these players. They have beaten City twice at their ground. They have come so far these players. They have given me absolutely everything. “We have come a long way. Even though we did not create too many clear cut chances, we pressed them back. It pleased me.
“Of course it is hard to come here and score a goal with 11, never mind 10. It was never a sending off. An absolute joke. How many times did they foul us?”