Pep Guardiola says he substituted Erling Haaland during Manchester City’s 2-0 defeat to Manchester United because he wanted his team to have ‘new energy’.
United ran out deserved winners at Old Trafford in Michael Carrick’s first game in charge as second-half goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu sealed the victory.
Haaland, meanwhile, failed to register a shot on target before he was replaced by 18-year-old Divine Mukasa with 10 minutes of the game remaining.
When asked if the decision to substitute Haaland was to ‘save his legs’, Guardiola replied: ‘Part of that yes.
‘We had new energy. At the end it is a question of how many moments you have.’
In a separate interview with Viaplay, Guardiola was also asked about Haaland’s subdued performance.
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‘It’s not about just Erling, the energy you pass to them, and them to you, it’s a question of the group.
‘We are here because Erling has done unbelievable. Of course, he’s played a lot of games but believe me, it’s not just about him.’
Guardiola also conceded that City deserved to lose the game.
‘The better team won. They were better,’ the City manager said.
‘When a team is better you have to accept it. They had the energy we didn’t have, so congratulations.
‘They had the chances at the end and of course the goals we conceded were poor. We didn’t control, but in general we can’t talk about this action or that action. We have the duty to analyse the game in general and they were better.’
The defeat leaves City six points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal, who play away to Nottingham Forest on Saturday evening.
‘It is about how we grow up as a team,’ Guardiola said when asked about the gap between his side and Arsenal.
‘I have the feeling we have done very good things so far. To be better you may have to take a step back. The season is a long way and you have to continue to analyse.’
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