With Manchester City drawing 0-0 against Manchester United on Sunday, Pep Guardiola will be reflecting on why his players failed to get over the line at Old Trafford.
Manchester City fans slated Guardiola’s team selection against United as he decided not to start any wingers on derby day — a decision that made their attack too predictable in the final third.
The width only came from City’s full-backs in Matheus Nunes and Nico O’Reilly on either side, who obviously lack the match-winning ability to exploit all the space that was afforded to them on the day.
After the contest, Pep Guardiola claimed that while the Portuguese international is developing into a quality right-back but lacks the cleverness to play in midfield, saying via BeanymanSports: “He can become a good right-back for the physicality, he’s not a player to play in the middle because he’s not clever enough in [terms of] the composure, has incredible skills and he’s learning a lot. The full-backs always have a big mistake when the cross for the far post where you are, always they are sleeping. And he defended really well at two or three crosses where Bruno [Fernandes] put in with [Patrick] Dorgu.”
However, Manchester City fans did not appreciate Guardiola’s comments about Nunes as he had just come off an impressive performance against Manchester United.
Man City fans criticise Pep Guardiola for calling Matheus Nunes out after draw vs Man United
One Manchester City accused Pep Guardiola of turning Nunes into a scapegoat but protecting players like Mateo Kovacic and Bernardo Silva after the draw against Manchester United: “Imagine being a decent-level midfielder playing PL [Premier League] football whilst regularly in Portuguese international squads, just for Pep to buy you, turn you into a right-back and then say you’re too dumb to play midfield, all whilst refusing to call out his best friends, Bernardo and Kovacic.”
A second fan claimed Guardiola cannot complain about Nunes as a player when he referred to him as one of the best players in the world when he was at Sporting CP: “He can only blame himself, same guy screaming Nunes, the most talented midfielder he’s seen three years ago by the way.”
A third Manchester City fan felt Pep Guardiola’s comments about Nunes were bang out of order after the clash against Manchester United: “Nunes is obviously not City-level but treating him like this is just wrong. Guy hasn’t said or done anything wrong and he’s thrown under the bus by a coach calling him an idiot.”
A fourth City fan added that if the former Wolves midfielder decides to leave, the Catalan’s claim might hurt his chances of playing in midfield for another club: “Absolutely, hurts his chances of playing at another club as a midfielder too. Compete head-loss from Pep. Completely classless. Nunes should leave, Atleti would still take him probably.”
A fifth Manchester City claimed that Pep Guardiola unnecessarily slated Nunes after Manchester City’s bore draw against Manchester United but he has his favourites who he does not question: “Weird guy, man. He clearly has his favourites and he shows it as well. Said Nunes isn’t clever enough, [Guardiola] said [Kalvin] Philips was overweight. He was one of the better players today and gets told this while his other puppets like usual gets praise for.”
Finally, a sixth fan stated that the 26-year-old was a rare bright spark from the Sky Blues side he picked to play against Ruben Amorim and Co: “Hard to have a go at Pep too often but Nunes was arguably the best bright spot of the God awful XI he trotted out. Am I missing something?”
Matheus Nunes openly said he wants to return to Sporting CP
The versatile midfielder has been solid, if not spectacular as a right-back this season and with that being the case, he may not appreciate Guardiola’s analysis of him as a player after playing out of position for him.
Micah Richards named Nunes as Manchester City’s weak link but for his own manager to question him like he did is likely to hurt the Premier League champion.
Nunes admitted he’d like to return to Sporting and perhaps Pep Guardiola making such disparaging comments about him may prompt him to leave Manchester City considering he did enough to impress against Manchester United.
“Obviously, I want to come back and I’ve said that several times. I think they [Sporting fans] know that. On top of that, after the Champions League game, the affection I felt… I had already returned to the stadium, but playing there had never happened. And the affection I felt…I was really angry because we lost but I can’t explain the affection I felt. I’m not going to say dates, obviously, I’m not going to estimate that, but obviously I’m going to come back.”
