Guardiola rues sloppy City performance while Amorim hails United desire

Pep Guardiola and Ruben Amorim were in contrasting moods in their post-match press conferences following Manchester United’s 2-1 win over Manchester City.

The Premier League champions had a 1-0 lead heading into the final five minutes of the game, but were undone by some Amad Diallo brilliance.

Diallo won his side a penalty after latching on to a loose Matheus Nunes backpass, which Bruno Fernandes slotted home, before grabbing the winner a few minutes later.

It left Guardiola crestfallen at full-time, with his side having won just one of their last 11 games.

He said: “This year it happens many times unfortunately. We gave away many things.

“We are not nice in the way we played. Before it’s so fluid, now we’re struggling for different reasons. A lot of defeats.

“I’m the boss, I’m the manager and I’m not good enough.”

Pep Guardiola in his post match press conference after the Manchester derby defeat 🎙️ pic.twitter.com/EUOW1Yr5Rm

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 15, 2024

“We put everything in and the game was almost closed. They had more possession first half but nothing special. We give away two goals, very difficult.

“It is what it is. What can I say? We can not blame this player or that one, it’s not that. It’s the season, a tough season.

“We didn’t play our best. We are not our best and we struggle a bit. Now we don’t play for the week.

“Previously we didn’t lose that many in two seasons. Now we’ve done it in eight games. You have to defend. We have lost a lot of games. It’s difficult. We have to move on and try to find the solution and try to win games.

“I think in nine years it wasn’t the toughest defeat. Champions League defeats harder. But at the moment, we need results to lift our mood. It’s getting worse and worse. I have to find the solution. So far I didn’t find it and this is the truth.”

Amorim’s ecstasy

“It’s not a disciplinary thing, it’s something that we have to do to improve our standards.”

Ruben Amorim explains why Marcus Rashford and Alejandro were not in the Manchester United squad for the derby pic.twitter.com/odtfcHQkTF

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 15, 2024

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Meanwhile, it was jubilation for Amorim, who has now beaten City as United and Sporting boss this season.

He could be spotted with his head in his hands during times of the game but all will be forgotten for now as he celebrates the win.

He said:”Three points. We have a lot to do but massive for our fans. But I see the same game until 85 minutes.

“Maybe our conversation would be so different without the goals but the performance was the same. They were in the game for 90 minutes. We didn’t control the result throughout but I think we deserved this. Good day for us.

“You can feel it we were near to scoring. We improved our speed in our runs and had opportunities. We controlled the attack of City and we believed it in the end. We wanted it more when we scored the first goal. Congratulations to the lads.

“It’s really important but when these game finished I remembered one week ago in the storm. We were 3-1 down at home to Nottingham and I keep that feeling for these days to not get carried away. We needed it a lot the three points.”