Manchester derby: Pep Guardiola has no regrets over Paul Pogba transfer shock

Pep Guardiola insists he has no regrets about dropping his Paul Pogba bombshell on the eve of last season’s Manchester derby.

The Catalan stunned Manchester United by revealing he’d been offered their record signing by agent Mino Raiola amid growing uncertainty about the Frenchman’s Old Trafford future.

Pogba responded in perfect fashion – inspiring a 3-2 win for Jose Mourinho’s side to postpone Manchester City’s title celebrations.

But Guardiola was in defiant mood ahead of Sunday’s showdown at the Etihad – admitting his side had to learn from the mistakes of throwing away a 2-0 lead in that game, but insisting he had no issue with his own contentious comments.

“I don’t have too many regrets,” said the City manager. “That’s the question for his agent, his comments. It’s in the past.

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“We lost the last game, every game is a new history and a new chapter.

“We realise how strong they are. When they dominate and create chances they win easily - but you have the feeling (even when) you are in control they punish you.

“For 75 minutes I’d like to play the same game against United as in April. But United showed us they need 10 or 15 minutes to create a lot of chances. When they have the ball and the people in front – wow – they can create something.”

City looked set to inflict a humiliating defeat on United when racing to a 2-0 half time lead in April. But two goals from Pogba, and a winner from Chris Smalling meant Guardiola’s celebrations were put on hold, while fans in the crowd were left in tears.

Victory for City on Sunday would effectively kill off United’s feint hopes of pushing themselves back into the title picture, but Guardiola insists it would be a mistake to write off Mourinho’s team – especially after their 2-1 win against Juventus on Wednesday.

In Pictures | Juventus vs Manchester United | 07/11/2018

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“Win or lose they are not out,” he added. “It’s not possible in November. They’ve already showed they can recover.

“They are a big club, big mentality, they showed it against Newcastle.

“United have the history and always they are there. In November, five or six strong teams, maybe in March, April, but everything can change at this stage.”

United are resurgent under Mourinho after his Old Trafford reign was plunged into crisis following three defeats in their first seven league games.

They still go into Sunday’s clash as rank outsiders, but Guardiola warned: “They’ve improved. They can win in Turin, where Juventus have not lost in (Europe) in nine years.

“There were 10 or 15 minutes after (Juve’s) goal - but apart from that they were so stable. I see a team with a lot of commitment, aggressive without the ball, everybody runs in front and everybody runs in behind.

“A few weeks ago in Stamford Bridge - one of the toughest places - until the last minute they were going to win.

“A team has good and bad moments and this moment they have confidence. It was never easy for Manchester City to beat United. In the whole history United win more times than City. But they’re a good rival and it’s a good chance to get three points and move them away.”

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