Guardiola criticises Dalot’s yellow card in derby defeat
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola expressed his belief that Diogo Dalot should have been sent off during his team’s 2-0 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday, reports BritPanorama.
The Red Devils secured victory in front of their home crowd, thanks to second-half goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu.
Controversy arose early in the match when Dalot escaped a red card for a knee-high challenge on Jeremy Doku, receiving only a yellow. Guardiola was clear about his view on the incident, stating that he felt it warranted a harsher punishment. Despite this, he refrained from attributing the loss to that specific moment, acknowledging that Michael Carrick’s side were the better team overall.
“The better team won. They had something we didn’t have. We weren’t at the level required to win this game,” he reflected. Guardiola admitted, “Was it a red card? Yes. But it would be poor for me as a manager to blame the red card.” He added that if his players were using the incident as an excuse, then it would indicate a significant issue.
Addressing United’s performance, Guardiola remarked that they played with an energy that his side lacked, emphasising their superiority in various aspects of the game.
On another note, Guardiola commented on Manchester United as a “transitional team,” while also being noncommittal about City’s interest in Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi, stating, “I don’t know officially from the club [about Guehi].” He also acknowledged his team’s lack of energy and readiness for the match. In response to the result, United coach Carrick celebrated his players’ commitment and adaptability during a transitional phase, saying, “It’s as close as we could have hoped for coming into the game.”
The game exemplified the ongoing rivalry between the two Manchester clubs, illustrating how quickly fortunes can shift in high-stakes fixtures. As the season progresses, both teams will be keen to consolidate their positions, with Guardiola’s City looking to bounce back and Carrick’s United keen on building momentum.
