Pep Guardiola has no regrets over Paul Pogba bombshell despite Manchester City derby defeat

Guardiola's sensational claim that Pogba was offered to City in January was followed by a match-winning performance by the midfielder

Pep Guardiola has said he has no regrets about revealing Paul Pogba was offered to Manchester City on the eve of the last Manchester derby.

Guardiola sensationally claimed that Pogba’s agent Mino Raiola offered the Manchester United midfielder to City in January, just hours before City’s meeting with United at the Etihad in April.

Pogba went on to lead a sensational United turnaround, scoring twice as Jose Mourinho’s side went from losing 2-0 at half-time to winning 3-2.

United’s victory was made all the sweeter as City would have been crowned Premier League champions with a win. Guardiola and his players were forced to wait until the following weekend to seal the title.

Guardiola’s revelation sent shockwaves through Manchester but the City manager does not believe that it had any bearing on last April’s result.

“I don’t have too many regrets,” he said. “That’s the question for his agent, his comments. It’s in the past. It’s the same last season, we lost, the last game every game a new history and a new chapter.”

City are heavy favourites to win on Sunday, with the defending champions already sitting top of the table after their unbeaten start to season so far.

Mourinho’s resurgent United appear to have recovered from a difficult start to the season having taken 10 points from a possible 12, yet will find themselves 12 points off the pace if defeated at the Etihad.

However, even if City are victorious on Sunday, Guardiola does not believe that United can be counted out of the title race this early.

“Win or lose, they are not out,” he said. “It’s not possible in November, they’ve already shown they can recover. Big club, big mentality, they showed it against Newcastle [coming from 2-0 down to win 3-2].

“Since we arrive we try to show, never give up. In the last months we haven’t lost two games in a row. United have the history and always they are there. In November, [there are] five or six strong teams.

“Maybe in March, April, [title contenders can be ruled out] but everything can change at this stage.”