Pep Guardiola dismisses Jose Mourinho's claim that Manchester United should have had a penalty
'I don’t know the plan from my opponent but we came here to try and win,' said Guardiola after Manchester City's derby win at Old Trafford
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Your support makes all the difference.Pep Guardiola dismissed Jose Mourinho’s complaints about referees after Sunday’s Manchester derby, claiming his Manchester City side won simply because they were “better”.
Two set-piece goals from David Silva and Nicolas Otamendi proved enough for a dominant City to open up a double-digit gap over their neighbours at the top of the Premier League table.
Marcus Rashford had equalised for Manchester United on the stroke of half-time, but Mourinho’s side looked unambitious and second best for long periods against the league leaders.
Mourinho used his post-match press conference to question referee Michael Oliver’s decision to book Ander Herrera for simulation and deny United a 78th-minute penalty.
Guardiola, however, agreed with Oliver that Nicolas Otamendi’s challenge on Herrera was not a foul and said his side deserved to take all three points from the game.
“Last season was the same. We won because we were better,” he said, referring to City’s 3-1 victory at Old Trafford under his management last September.
“I don’t know the plan from my opponent but we came here to try and win. We did the same at Stamford Bridge and here again, at two big stages.”
On the penalty, Guardiola said: “For me it is not a penalty because the intention of Otamendi is not trying to bring him down.
“For me, the message is the same as [when accused of diving] at Barcelona. When a team has the courage to have 65-70-75 per cent ball possession it is because he is honest, because he wants to play, wants to try to play and that is what we have done.
“We are clear, we are open, we want to attack, we want to try to win the games. The other can do what he wants.”
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