Pep Guardiola Appears to Concede Premier League Title After Defeat to Manchester United

Pep Guardiola Appears to Concede Premier League Title After Defeat to Manchester United

Rene Otinga
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:22 PM
  • Manchester United continued their impressive run after the World Cup with a 2-1 win over Manchester City at Old Trafford on Saturday
  • The win placed United to within a point of City on the log with the same number of matches played
  • Defeat leaves City five points behind Arsenal, who could go further ahead with a win over Tottenham on Sunday
  • After the game, Pep Guardiola seemed to suggest his side 'cannot win'

Pep Guardiola seemed to concede defeat in the Premier League title race in his post-match press conference after a derby defeat to Manchester United.

Despite taking the lead through Jack Grealish in the second half, the Citizens were pegged back in controversial circumstances as Bruno Fernandes scored from a through ball meant for Marcus Rashford, who was clearly offside.

Rashford would go on to get his ninth consecutive goal at Old Trafford, which proved to be the winner in a fiery afternoon at Old Trafford.

Pep Guardiola, Manchester derby, Premier League
Pep Guardiola said he "doesn't care' about the Premier League. Photo: Getty.
Source: Getty Images

City suffer second defeat

This was Manchester City’s second successive defeat this week, as they were surprisingly dumped out of the Carabao Cup by Southampton days earlier.

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The result against United leaves them in real danger of slipping further from runaway leaders Arsenal, who currently enjoy a five-point gap at the top with a game in hand.

United, meanwhile, are outside contenders for the title and are six points behind the Gunners.

At full-time, a visibly frustrated Pep Guardiola was asked what he thought of his team’s chances of winning a third successive Premier League title.

'I don't care about the Premier League and the Carabao Cup, we cannot win,' the Spaniard quickly told BT Sport.
We have won a lot so it is not a problem. Problem is we have performed like we have done. Today we performed.

Why Bruno Fernandes goal should not have stood

Sports Brief earlier reported on the debate that raged on social media after Bruno Fernandes' goal in the derby.

Casemiro released a ball through on goal which was challenged by Marcus Rashford who was in a clear offside position. The England international left the ball for his teammate, Fernandes who was onside. Fernandes lifted the ball past Ederson but the celebrations were halted momentarily.

United's argument must have been Rashford did not touch the ball nor did he interfere with an opposition player.

The FIFA rules state that a player is interfering with play if he touches the ball from a teammate’s pass.

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Rene Otinga
Rene Otinga is a sports journalist with over eight years of working experience in digital media. Rene's experience includes working as a Copywriter at X News Kenya and TUKO.co.ke.
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