The EFL Cup may not exactly be Manchester City’s priority, but Pep Guardiola would surely have loved to beat Manchester United nonetheless.
The game had nothing to do with the Guardiola vs. Mourinho narrative that’s constantly being drummed up in the media, but everything to do with the fact that the Catalan is under huge pressure.
It’s incredible that that’s the case with City top of the league – albeit on goal difference – but that’s the way it is.
Expectations were that they would run away with the Premier League title, but their leaky defence is making it impossible for them to do so.
And Guardiola will be especially concerned with one worrying stat that suggests he could be in for his biggest challenge yet – this is in fact the longest winless run of his career, as reported by Sky Sports.
His side are now without a positive result in six games, having failed to beat Celtic, Tottenham, Everton, Barcelona, Southampton, and now United.
This is essentially not what Guardiola signed up for, but at the very least, it will give him the chance to prove his credentials beyond doubt.
City will be hoping to put it right against West Brom on Saturday.
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