Pep Guardiola admitted Manchester City were outplayed by an inspired Manchester United in a 2-0 defeat that further dented the Premier League title challenge on Saturday.
City still needs to win four league games this year and is six points behind Arsenal, who have a game in hand against Nottingham Forest later on Saturday.
The result at Old Trafford could have been much more embarrassing for Guardiola’s men as United produced arguably their best performance of the season in Michael Carrick’s first game in charge.
Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu struck for the Red Devils, who also had three goals disallowed for marginal offside.
“The better team won,” Guardiola said. “We were not at the level we needed to win this match.
«We weren’t there in many departments. They were better. They had an energy that we didn’t have.»
The course of the match could have been different if Diogo Dalot had been sent off in the first ten minutes for catching Jeremy Doku on the knee with his studs.
Dalot escaped with a yellow card, but Guardiola said his team could not use that decision as an excuse.
«Was it a red card? Yes. But it would be bad for me as a manager to blame the red card,» Guardiola said.
«Would it have changed the game? Who knows? If the players have that as an excuse, then we have a big problem.»
Published on January 17, 2026
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