City slip while United gain vital win
Reds defeat Swansea while Blues draw at home to Boro.
City fell to third in the Premier League Table this weekend after drawing 1-1 with Middlesbrough on Saturday.
The Blues went ahead in the first half thanks to Sergio Aguero’s 150th goal for club; their 18th shot of the afternoon. However, they failed to strike upon their numerous subsequent opportunities.
Confidence was high amongst City fans following the club’s midweek 3-1 victory over Barcelona but the Blues were left to rueing a host of missed chances as Martin de Roon grabbed an injury-time goal that gave the visitors a point.
Pep Guardiola noted: “In the second half we didn't play like in the first half but I didn't think we played badly.
“I think they had one chance in the beginning of the second half and one in the last minute.
“We created enough chances, we attacked really well and we controlled the counter-attacks but when you arrive in the last minutes just 1-0, everything can happen.”
“If we talk about the performance after a demanding game last Tuesday, how we started, moving the ball right and left, maybe in the last minutes the team can be tired.”
It was a happier weekend for the Red half of Manchester as United took all three points at the Liberty Stadium.
The Reds didn’t let their manager’s absence phase them on Sunday, with a 3-1 victory against Swansea- Mourinho watching from the stands as he served a touchline ban.
Dominating from the beginning, United were 3-0 in the lead by half-time, following a stunning goal from Paul Pogba and a Zlatan Ibrahimovic brace.
When asked about having to watch his side’s win from the stands, Mourinho responded:
“I made the changes, sent a message when something needs to be told to the team, and I was in the dressing room before the game and at half-time.”
Despite this minor setback, Mourinho seemed proud of Ibrahimovic’s double-shot performance, which were his first in the league since the derby defeat on September 10.
“He was doing so many things I was not worried, but today we needed goals to win and he got it.''
The win puts the Reds sixth in the table six points behind third-placed City.
By Ryan Gerrard