Manchester City fell to a 2-0 defeat against Manchester United at Old Trafford, as Pep Guardiola admitted the hosts fully deserved victory yet still kept faith in City's Premier League title hopes. The result tightened the pressure on the champions, who extended their winless run in the league.
The derby swung United's way through goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu, earning Michael Carrick a winning start in a second spell as caretaker manager. Amad Diallo, Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount also had efforts disallowed, while both Diallo and Harry Maguire hit the woodwork in a one-sided contest.
City struggled badly in attack, registering only one shot on target from seven attempts, in contrast to United's constant pressure. The defeat marked
Guardiola's 10th loss against Manchester United in all competitions, equalling his worst record against any club, alongside Liverpool and Tottenham, across Guardiola's managerial career.
"The better team won. They were better, Guardiola told Sky Sports. When a team is better, you have to accept it. They had the energy we didn't have, so congratulations. They had the chances at the end, and of course, the goals we conceded were poor. We didn't control, but in general, we can talk about this action or that action. We have the duty to analyse the game in general, and they were better. They started really strong; we lost one or two balls. The crowd is normal because it is a derby. In many years, they have been behind them, and also with the new manager, it is normal these kind of things in the game. We never made a threat or a cross or a movement to try and win that. It is also part of the energy, win or lose; it is about what we do with the ball as well, not just without. "
Guardiola pointed to Manchester United's intensity in key moments, as City struggled both in possession and without the ball. The visitors rarely stretched United's defence, lacked penetration from wide areas and failed to create sustained pressure. The atmosphere inside Old Trafford grew louder after City's early turnovers, adding to the visitors' problems throughout the derby.
The loss came with important title race consequences. With Arsenal scheduled to play later on the same day, City missed a chance to move within three points of the leaders and instead risked ending the night as many as nine points behind. Guardiola still highlighted growth over the full campaign.
"It is about how we grow up as a team, he added. I have the feeling we have done very good things so far. To be better, you may have to take a step back. The season is a long way [to go], and you have to continue to analyse. "
That perspective followed a difficult domestic run. City have now gone four straight Premier League matches without a victory, with three draws and one defeat, their longest sequence without a win since December 2024, when they posted two draws and two losses. Guardiola accepted the need for calm review rather than excuses.
Manchester City vs Manchester United derby title race reaction
A major flashpoint arrived early when Diogo Dalot caught Jeremy Doku with a high challenge. The referee issued a yellow card, and VAR reviewed the incident but did not upgrade the punishment to red. Manchester City staff and players were unhappy with the outcome, though play continued with Dalot remaining on the pitch.
Bernardo Silva felt the decision did not change the overall outcome, placing responsibility on City's performance instead. "After a day like today, I don't think we have any excuses, he told Sky Sports. It was a really bad performance from us. I saw the challenge; it is what it is. This season, the 50-50 decisions all go against us. They all go for our rivals. At the end of the day, this was not the reason. I watched the clip; it is a red card. "
The derby defeat underlined Manchester City's current problems in both effectiveness and energy, while Manchester United capitalised on momentum under Michael Carrick. The result damaged City's Premier League position but left enough matches for a response, with Guardiola and the squad stressing analysis, improvement and renewed focus on the title race.
