Erik ten Hag felt his Manchester United side put in a good performance at the Etihad Stadium and were unlucky not to return to Old Trafford with at least a point.
Marcus Rashford belted the Reds into an eighth-minute lead, firing past Ederson from 25 yards, but a Phil Foden double turned the tide in City’s favour, before Erling Haaland settled matters in injury time.
The Dutchman was pleased with how his side carried out his tactical instructions, feeling they were simply undone in a couple of ‘defining moments’, notably just after Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho could have been awarded fouls following last-ditch interventions from Kyle Walker and Ederson respectively.