Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has gone into bat for under-pressure goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, whose mistake allowed Zlatan Ibrahimovic to pull a goal back in Saturday’s Manchester Derby.
City had established a commanding 2-0 lead, only to see that cut in half three minutes out from half time.
City’s new Chilean goalkeeper, signed from FC Barcelona, went some way off his line to collect Wayne Rooney’s high free kick.
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However, he spilled the ensuing catch, handing Ibrahimovic the chance to finish into an empty net. The Swede delivered, affording United added belief going into half-time.
In the end, Bravo’s blushes were spared, with the Sky Blues hanging on for a 2-1 victory.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Guardiola defended his goalkeeper, lauding his resilient attitude.
“We played well in the first half for Claudio,” Guardiola said.
“He was unlucky … Sometimes this happens.
“What I am impressed with the most is that after that happened (the goal), we played well in the last minutes of the first half.
“In the second half, he continued to play, and that is a really good thing about his personality.
“One of the reasons why we played well in the first half is because Claudio Bravo read our build-up really, really well.”
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