'It's not true' - Pep Guardiola hits back at Jose Mourinho as he claims Man City now play like Barcelona

 

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was applauded by Manchester United fans at the end of the game

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola hit back at the snipes from Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho suggesting his players were 'fall over too easily' after his side secured a 2-1 win at Old Trafford.

Mourinho's pre-match comments suggesting City played dived to influence match officials were clearly designed to put a seed of doubt in the mind of referee Michael Oliver ahead of the biggest game of the Premier League season.

Yet it was United midfielder Ander Hererra who ended up getting booked for diving in the penalty box, with Guardiola keen to reject Mourinho's accusations after the game.
"It’s not true that my players go down easily. That is not an argument I believe," he declared. "He was talking about players diving before this match, but this is not what my players do."

Guardiola was applauded off the field by some Manchester United supporters after he masterminded a comprehensive win for his side at Old Trafford.
While United manager Jose Mourinho suggested City were 'lucky' to get the victory that saw them open up an 11-point lead at the top of the Premier League table, the plaudits flowed for Guardiola's side after a majestic passing display against their nearest rivals.

The manner of the win inspired Guardiola to suggest he had conclusively defied his critics, as he argued he has now successfully injected his brand of fantasy football into England's Premier League.
"People said we couldn’t play the way we did in Barcelona in England but it is possible and we did it," he stated.

"I knew that last season. Always I believed we could do it. Everyone can play how they want, that’s why football is so beautiful. I’m happy to go to Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford and to beat them in this way.
"Football is incredible. We spoke about how to play United but never set-pieces offensively, and then we score two. Football is unpredictable.

"This win means a lot in the way we played for our confidence but in three days we go to Swansea in the winter time. We are going to face a lot of difficulties. In December it’s impossible to be champions but it’s good for us."

Guardiola refused to consider this huge win as a pivotal moment in the title race, as he insisted his team still have a lot of work to do.

"We won in Old Trafford again, that is why I am the most pleased and of course for the three points," he added. "We played good, with a lot of courage. I'm so satisfied.
"We won because we were better. We are still in December, if we have 11 points when we play the second derby in April then maybe I will tell you that we have the title."