Sweetest win yet for Guardiola as Man City beats United 2-1

“In the first half, for 35 minutes it was City in control, City deserved to be in front”.

Yet what was Mourinho really thinking as he watched Guardiola’s side running rings round his men in the opening half, all largely orchestrated by a player whose obvious quality was lost on him when he was at Chelsea?

Yet they could not help but take centre stage, reacting in turn with vivid emotions on the touchline to the heat and fury of a compelling match.

‘Especially in the second half, it was more hard than the first because they played very powerfully, a lot of long balls, but I think we coped well’. “He will score goals and create goals”.

But it was a move that backfired as City immediately took a grip on the game and went ahead in the 15th minute.

De Bruyne was the provider for Iheanacho’s goal, finding space in United’s area to drift on to his left foot and drive a low shot against the post.

But Adam Lallana’s rocket in the 56th minute and Firmino’s second in the 89th minute wrapped up Liverpool’s second win of the season and left Leicester contemplating a lacklustre start to their title defence.

Guardiola brought Bravo to the club after sidelining previous first-choice goalkeeper Joe Hart, who has joined Torino on loan.

But he is not a good goalkeeper – not on this evidence, anyhow.

“I think it is more brilliant, the action from Ibrahimovic, than a mistake from Claudio”. Bravo’s previous composure disappeared.

It was not all flawless as his selection of the uncertain Claudio Bravo in goal ran a fine line with failure – but all’s well that ends well.

Mourinho gave Jesse Lingard and summer signing Henrikh Mkhitaryan their first league starts of the season and it’s a decision he’s probably regretting now.

Wayne Rooney is one of the world’s most polarising footballers.

“As soon as you lose the ball it is hard, and especially with players like [Marcus] Rashford and [Anthony] Martial on the counter-attack”.

It’s a penalty and a red card for Bravo.

Ibrahimovic’s instinctive strike provided United with some much-needed momentum heading into the half-time interval and the Red Devils responded with a stronger performance in the second half.

With Sergio Aguero suspended, Guardiola said he had other options – but opted for Iheanacho to show his players what he wanted.

Mkhitaryan, making his first start for United, and the recalled Lingard were hauled off at the break and United performed better with Ander Herrera and Marcus Rashford on in their place.

The final whistle brought a shake of hands from the managers, a far cry from the hostility when they clashed in matches in Spain.

It was Guardiola’s eighth win in 17 meetings with Mourinho, who has won only once against his rival in their last 10 head-to-heads. The numbers tell the story, as they usually do.