Pep Guardiola says Man City were 'anxious' during win over Man Utd as Phil Foden praised for brilliant brace

Pep Guardiola says Man City were 'anxious' during win over Man Utd as Phil Foden praised for brilliant brace

WATCH NOW: Sports round-up as Man City sink Man Utd in Manchester derby clash

Jack Otway

By Jack Otway


Published: 03/03/2024

- 18:15

Updated: 03/03/2024

- 18:28

The reigning champions won 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium to boost their hopes of Premier League title glory

Pep Guardiola has reacted after his Manchester City side beat Manchester United 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, admitting his side were 'anxious' during the early stages of the contest.

The visitors took the lead against the run of play through Marcus Rashford, with the England international's powerful strike sailing into the top corner.


However, City were dominant and a brace from Phil Foden, coupled with a strike from Erling Haaland, gave them a much-deserved win.

The home side are just one point behind Liverpool at the top of the table, with Guardiola looking to win the prize for the fourth year in a row.

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Man City boss Pep Guardiola was delighted after his side's derby day win over Man Utd

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The Spaniard has addressed his side's latest victory.

And he's surprisingly admitted City were 'anxious' during the early stages of the match before they came roaring back to claim all three points.

"Not winning would not be good but we matched the result with the performance and it is really good," he told the BBC.

"We started really well but after seven minutes and the first long ball we were not in the correct line.

"We were a little more anxious in the first half in the final third but yeah it was a really good game.

"They are a team built for the transitions and they can kill you in them. That is why you have to not lose that.

"If we attack not in a good position they can make good transitions and score a second goal and make it more difficult."

Guardiola also lavished praise on Foden, insisting the England star is the 'best player in the Premier League right now'.

"It is the amount of games he is playing. He was always a talented player but now he is more mature and understands more the game, especially defensively," he added.

'He can play middle, right, make moments and cut inside, play in the left, scoring from the left.

"What can I say? He is the best player in the Premier League right now for the amount of things he does. Unbelievable."

City are dreaming of winning the league for the fourth year on the trot.

And Guardiola has ramped up the mind games with the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool by saying it's out of his 'legendary' sides hands.

"It is about us. We can't control what Liverpool or Arsenal, Aston Villa or other contenders do, it is about us," he continued.

"We do what we have to do to win today, next Wednesday and Sunday. This team is legendary.

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Man City fell behind against Man Utd when Marcus Rashford opened the scoring in the eighth minute of the match

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"Will we do it? I don't know. We have today more points at this stage than last season.

"The difference is Liverpool have I don't know how many more points than this stage last season.

"When the opponent is behaving like this, what can I say, congratulations so far. We will continue to try game by game."

Foden, meanwhile, savoured being the derby hero for City once again - having previously scored a hat-trick in the same fixture last term.

"My aim is to turn up in the big games," he told Sky.

Man City Phil Foden

Man City star Phil Foden was the star of the show with his brilliant brace in the club's 3-1 win over Man Utd

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"That is what I want to do and I think this season I am proving that. I just need to keep working hard.

"I understand what it means for the fans - a derby at the Etihad. It means everything for me, to score as well is even better but it was about the win today."

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