Pep unfazed by first defeat ahead of Manchester derby
manchester — Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola showed no disappointment after a 2-1 Champions League defeat by Shakhtar Donetsk ended his team’s unbeaten run in all competitions this season.
The result also spoiled Guardiola’s milestone 100th appearance as manager in Europe’s premier club competition but the Spaniard was still delighted with the performances of second-string players in his makeshift side.
“I’m so pleased for Tosin (Adarabioyo), Phil (Foden) and Brahim (Diaz) and how well they played,” he told BT Sport. “We came here to win. We couldn’t but we were trying until the end to do so. I’m happy for the performance.”
City were already assured of finishing as Group F winners and with one eye on Sunday’s Premier League Manchester derby against United, Guardiola rested his entire first-choice back four.
The shuffle played into Shakhtar’s hands as they launched waves of attacks on City’s rearguard, who looked completely at sea and rode their luck before Bernard fired the home side ahead with a superb shot from 15 metres. City keeper Ederson match wins in a row in Premier League for manchester city gifted Shakhtar a second as Ismaily took advantage to tighten the Ukrainian champions’ grip on a knockout-stage berth before Sergio Aguero blasted a late penalty for the visitors. Shifting his attention to the United game, Guardiola refused to be drawn into billing City as Champions League favourites heading into Monday’s last-16 draw in Nyon, Switzerland.
“It always happens when the draw (is made) — they talk about it but it depends how the team arrives at that moment, on that day,” he said. “Maybe you are good today but in February, you’re a disaster. Or the opposite. It will be tough. The contenders are tough but we are going to try.
“But now we are going to rest, come back tomorrow and prepare for the game (against Manchester Games unbeaten run in all competitions for United at Old Trafford United),” he added. There have been few Manchester derbies with as much on the line as Sunday’s meeting at Old Trafford of the top two teams in the Premier League — the most anticipated clash of the campaign so far.
City have built an eight-point lead following an unbeaten start to the season that has included 13 straight victories — equalling the record for the longest winning run in a single Premier League campaign.
Not to be completely outdone, however, Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United have equalled a historic club record by remaining unbeaten at Old Trafford for 40 matches in all competitions.
And with former Barcelona boss Guardiola and ex-Real Madrid manager Mourinho having developed a fierce rivalry during their time together in Spain, Sunday’s meeting promises to be one to savour. The last team to beat United at home were City in September, 2016 and a repeat performance would leave the club, once derided as “noisy neighbours” by former United boss Alex Ferguson, 11 points clear at the summit.
City have been playing some exhilarating football this campaign with coach Guardiola’s style of play, which served him so well at his previous clubs, bringing the expected rewards after a disappointing lack of consistency last season.
Yet while United have suffered two defeats on the road — to Huddersfield Town and Chelsea — they too have looked like champions at home. The 40 games unbeaten have included 29 wins and 11 draws with 85 goals scored and just 17 conceded.
This season’s Premier League record at Old Trafford is played seven, won seven — 20 goals for and just one against. Mourinho, however, will be without his key French midfielder Paul Pogba, who starts a three-match ban following his red card in Saturday’s crucial 3-1 win at Arsenal. — Reuters