Manchester United 2-0 Manchester City: Pep Guardiola refuses to blame officials after the loss

United scored two goals in the second half through Brian Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgo, and they also scored three goals that were disallowed for offside, and they hit the woodwork twice and forced the visiting team’s goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma into a series of saves.

The hosts should have been down to 10 men within the first 10 minutes when full-back Dalot caught Jeremy Doku in a knee challenge with his spikes.

Referee Anthony Taylor issued a yellow card to the Portuguese, and the decision was supported by Video Assistant Referee (VAR).

The Premier League Match Center explained the decision by saying: “The referee’s call for a yellow card for Dalot for a reckless challenge was verified and confirmed by the VAR – with the contact deemed to be lightning rather than excessive force.”

“It’s a red card, but it would be bad as a coach to analyze that as a reason,” Guardiola said. [losing] The game – that’s what it is.

“I think for 85 minutes, 10 v 11, but if we played with that energy, we wouldn’t have been close to that. I can say that and blame it.” [the decision]But we will not grow and move forward.

“It has happened and it is not a surprise, it happened in the past when I arrived here. Honestly, we have to look at ourselves. If players have excuses, we will be in trouble in the future.

“We have to look at ourselves and today the analysis is simple – Manchester United were better and we have to accept that.”

Former Premier League official Darren Cane told BBC Sport that he believed Dalot was “very lucky to escape a red card”.

He added: “It is difficult to see the live broadcast on the field from the referee’s angle, but with the replay feature I feel that Dalot is very lucky because he did not get the red card.”

“If the referee had been called to the screen, I’m sure he would have gotten a red card.”

United interim coach Carrick said: “I’m not giving you that [Guardiola’s] The answer is, I didn’t see it but I thought at the time that Diogo got the ball and kicked it. I didn’t think for a second that it was a bad challenge. I was told later that it was a lack of power [that meant he was not shown red]”.