Guardiola: I’ve learnt how to stop Mourinho

Guardiola’s City executed a series of swift and accurate counter-attacks in the second half of the Manchester derby as United aimed to claw their way back into the game, and were unfortunate not to yield a third goal in several instances.

The Spaniard’s introduction of speedy wingers Nolito and Leroy Sane helped to stretch United, who towards the latter stages of the encounter found it difficult to track back. After securing a tangible advantage Guardiola’s tactics were acute, as he successfully ensured that three points belonged to his side.

Read also: Champions League: Guardiola’s Man City to battle Barcelona

Speaking of City’s success in quelling Mourinho’s counter attacks and reversing his rivals’ trait Guardiola said, as reported by FourFourTwo: “I’ve received many goals from Mourinho’s teams on the counter-attack because his teams are really good in that part of the game.

“But in the first half we controlled it, we conceded maybe one or two counter attacks, no more. It’s really good, we defended the set pieces [well] because they are stronger and taller than us and we defended really good.”

City centre backs Nicolas Otamendi and John Stones dealt with United’s advances sharply, and appeared accomplished on the ball when invited to turn defence into attack. In comparison, Eric Bailly and Daley Blind’s hesitance allowed Kelechi Iheanacho and Kevin De Bruyne to firmly establish City as the imperative force early on.

 

 

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