Pep Guardiola emerged victorious from his first Premier League battle with old adversary Jose Mourinho as Manchester City secured a fully deserved win in a frantic Old Trafford derby.
Kevin de Bruyne’s cool finish and Kelechi Iheanacho’s tap-in after the Belgian hit the post put City in complete control as they outclassed Mourinho’s Manchester United for most of the opening 45 minutes.
United were handed a lifeline just before the break when City’s debutant keeper Claudio Bravo summed up his desperately uncertain display by dropping a free-kick to allow Zlatan Ibrahimovic to pull a goal back.
They mounted an aerial siege in front of the Stretford End but City held firm to maintain their position at the top of the table, coming closest to scoring when De Bruyne struck an upright from Leroy Sane’s pass.
The long-time rivalry – and acrimony – between former Real Madrid manager Mourinho and ex-Barcelona boss Guardiola meant this fixture was ringed on the calendar from the moment it was announced.
A truce was called in the build-up to the game as Guardiola announced he would accept an invitation for a post-match glass of wine with Mourinho and there was an embrace when they met before kick-off.
And when the game started, Guardiola stalked his technical area, micro-managing every moment of City’s approach, while Mourinho crouched and made notes as the game progressed.
The Spaniard will have been delighted to see such early superiority, a magnificent first 40 minutes of clinical passing and movement leaving United’s midfield, including £89m world record buy Paul Pogba, as virtual passengers.
It was only that moment of indecision from Bravo that disrupted City – and Guardiola’s congratulations for his players at the end were also an expression of delight for their resilience when the going got tough late on.
He showed his willingness to shore things up when he sent on Fernandinho for Iheanacho – but it was not such a good day for Mourinho.
The Portuguese gave summer signing Henrikh Mkhitaryan his first start in an unfamiliar right flank role and it was no surprise when he was replaced by Marcus Rashford after a nightmare first half.
Mourinho also brought on Ander Herrera for Jesse Lingard for the second half but City survived an improved United showing to maintain their flawless start to the season.
This was exactly how Pep Guardiola would have wanted it – a crucial victory that keeps Manchester City top of the Premier League table and marks them down already as the team to beat this season.
And in that opening half, City’s hierarchy were able to sit back and watch the sort of football they had in mind when their long courting of Guardiola finally came to fruition.
City – without suspended striker Sergio Aguero – were simply in a different class to Mourinho’s expensively reassembled Manchester United as they overran them in midfield, created space and chances while remaining cool under pressure.
It was only when Bravo’s ill-judged dash to claim a free-kick and subsequent poor handling cost them a goal that they showed any signs of being unsettled.
The 33-year-old keeper was brought to Etihad Stadium in preference to Joe Hart, whose style did not find any favour with Guardiola.
One of Bravo’s big selling points was supposedly his ability with the ball at his feet – but here he was shaky and indecisive, twice having to launch himself into desperate challenges on Mkhitaryan and Rooney after dawdling in possession.
Bravo is, however, a vastly experienced keeper whom Guardiola rates highly and so should be given time to settle.
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