Guardiola explains how Man Utd changes at half-time affected Man City

Guardiola explains how Man Utd changes at half-time

Pep Guardiola saw his side struggle to adapt to Manchester United's second half response.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side looked mightily relieved to hear the half-time whistle as a rampant Manchester City threatened to score more than the three they had already plundered at Old Trafford.

However, the visitors would not find the scoresheet again as an improved performance from the home side saw them reduce the deficit ahead of the second leg at the end of the month.

Guardiola could be seen speaking to a few players individually including Rodri during the second period in an attempt to see his side achieve greater control of the game. The Blues will be content to take a 3-1 advantage to the Etihad and City's manager said that whatever was likely said in the home dressing room at the break along with the changes they made meant that besting them for the full 90 minutes was never going to happen.

"I tried to say [to Rodri] that the space was outside, not inside," he said. "They had 4-4-2 diamond, and to make the buildup our free man was the full-back but it was not easy.

"You can't always anticipate change because from the line it is difficult to communicate it to them, we don't have a timeout to tell them a few things. It is easier to watch it from outside but [Benjamin] Mendy was alone and [Kyle] Walker was alone and that's when I wanted to tell him but just in case the second leg Ole wants to play in that way we have to be prepared what we have to do to solve the situation because we struggled more because we were more tired.

"It's normal. I'm pretty sure they spoke at half-time and said guys we cannot accept that. Yesterday Leeds played especially well in the first half and then Mikel made a speech and good corrections.

"It's impossible at this stage in this level when you play to be perfect. I never expected to come here and win the game but I didn't expect to play the first 40 minutes and I don't expect we're going to play the second leg like the first 45 minutes but we have to be serious to try to reach the final."
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