Jose Mourinho got his revenge on great managerial rival Pep Guardiola as Manchester United beat a weakened Manchester City 1-0 in the fourth round of the English League Cup on Wednesday, with Juan Mata scoring the second-half winner.
Six weeks after City's 2-1 win at Old Trafford in the Premier League, Mourinho's decision to play a virtually full-strength team paid off.
Mata sidefooted home a low shot from 10 metres in the 54th minute following a lay-off by Zlatan Ibrahimovic, ensuring City is now winless in six games under Guardiola — the worst run of the Spaniard's distinguished coaching career.
Guardiola rested most of his key players — starting 19-year-olds Aleix Garcia and Pablo Maffeo among his fringe players — and City faded after a decent start, failing to have a shot on target in an error-strewn match.
It was Mourinho's fourth win in 18 meetings with Guardiola and an important victory psychologically for United, coming three days after a 4-0 loss to Chelsea in the Premier League — Mourinho's heaviest loss in English football.
It was a big defeat and numbers that the history of this club does not deserve. We had to give something back.Jose Mourinho
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The titleholders are out of the competition — although Guardiola said the League Cup was the least of his priorities this season and that was reflected in his starting lineup. Vincent Kompany, City's injury-prone captain, started for the second straight game but was substituted at halftime.
In the other games on Wednesday, West Ham beat Chelsea 2-1. Cheikhou Kouyate headed in Mark Noble's cross in the 11th minute and Edimilson Fernandes added a second in the 48th to see off a weakened Chelsea lineup. Gary Cahill scored a late consolation goal for the visitors.
Sofiane Boufal scored the only goal in Southampton’s 1-0 win over Sunderland.
Also Read: Here’s What Jose Mourinho Said After Man U Got Thrashed by Chelsea
(This copy has been edited for length.)
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