A 60th minute header by substitute Jack Grealish had given City a deserved second half lead at Old Trafford.
However, two goals inside the last 12 minutes from the hosts – including a controversial Bruno Fernandes leveller that was initially ruled out for offside – saw United claim all three points.
The result left City five points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal who also have a game in hand.
However, reflecting on the result, the City boss insisted he was ‘satisfied’ with the way his players went about their task before then challenging the squad to get ‘better and better’ looking ahead to the second half of the league programme.
“We’re not going to win for the next 25 years everything but we’re going to fight and today we fought and played to win but sometimes football is like that and you don’t win,” the boss reflected.
CITY+ | SIGN UP TO ACCESS EXCLUSIVE CONTENT
“Of course, we want to try and what I want is to behave in this way and sometimes it happens and sometimes not and I know what we have to do is be better and better and better in this league.
“We lost the Carabao Cup, we lost it. But it’s not about losing in the Carabao Cup, it’s the way we lost. I was sad, really, really sad.
“Today the way we tried to do it, we were close, we missed a little up front but in general I am satisfied.”
Play the video to watch Pep’s press conference in full…
