Manchester City were knocked out of the EFL Cup by cross-city rivals Manchester United in a less-than-entertaining 1-0 loss at Old Trafford.
The loss means that Pep Guardiola’s side are now six games without a win ahead of a trip to the Hawthorns to face West Brom this weekend.
Juan Mata scored the only goal of the game as a full strength United side overcame a heavily rotated City side.
Guardiola made a number of changes from Sunday’s 1-1 draw against Southampton. Youngsters Pablo Maffeo and Aleix Garcia started the match, while Kelechi Iheanacho replaced Sergio Aguero up front. Skipper Vincent Kompany started in consecutive matches for the first time since March.
The hosts, meanwhile, fielded a full-strength side with world-record signing Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the starting XI.
Managers Guardiola and Jose Mourinho shared a friendly exchange on the touchline before the game, amid rumours of an ongoing feud between them.
City started the game well and could have taken the lead in the opening minutes, but striker Iheanacho misjuged Jesus Navas’ cross and headed just wide of the post.
That was the only real chance of the first half. Both sides were poor in possession and, to Guardiola’s dismay, there were a number of simple passes that were misplaced by the Sky Blues.
Kompany was withdrawn at half-time; the reason remains unknown. It could have been to nurse his injury or because of his tendency to clear the ball rather than play it out of defence.
The second half saw United take control of the game: they came out from the break with more passion and hunger for the goal.
Pogba forced City shotstopper Willy Caballero into a phenomenal save, which saw the Argentine turn the ball onto the post from just seven yards out.
The constant pressure, however, paid off for United, who took the lead when a scramble inside the box left the ball at Mata’s feet. The Spaniard finished cooly to give the Red Devils the lead. Minutes later. Ibrahimovic squandered the chance to double the hosts’ advantage when his feet got tangled at the vital moment.
Late changes from City saw Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling replace Nolito and Leroy Sané respectively, but the substitutions were to no avail as City finished the game with no shots on target.
