Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho and Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola came face to face again in Wednesday's League Cup game (Reuters)
Jose Mourinho got his own back 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 a second-half winner.
Six weeks after City's 2-1 win at Old Trafford in the Premier League, United got a measure of revenge as Mourinho's decision to play a virtually full-strength team paid off.
Mata fired home from 10 meters 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 two 19-year-olds among his fringe players, and City faded after a decent start.
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 soccer.
The titleholders are out — although Guardiola said the League Cup was the least of his priorities this season and that was reflected in his starting lineup.
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