Pep Guardiola was a picture of discontent on the touchline as his Manchester City team nearly lost their advantage from the first leg against Manchester United.
In the end, the Blues restricted the Reds to a 1-0 win which saw his team reach their third successive League Cup final – and fifth in seven years.
Guardiola, typically, declared himself to be “delighted” with the way his team played – but he conceded there was one aspect of the game with which he was not happy.
He preferred to assess his team over the two legs, as City blitzed United in the first half of the first leg, and dominated them for long spells of the return.
“We played 180 minutes really well, we conceded few (chances)," said Guardiola.
“We play with these two guys (Cancelo and Walker) to make the build-up. They are not used to play in this position.
“If Laporte is on the left side the game would be completely different in the number of chances.
“But that is normal for the quality of players we have in several positions. I am incredibly delighted with the way we played.”
But City let themselves down by making a hash of several great chances - with Raheem Sterling, David Silva, Sergio Aguero and Ilkay Gundogan all guilty.
Guardiola warned that such profligacy cannot continue if they are to have success in Carabao Cup, FA Cup and Champions League.
“We created chances to score and in knockout goals that is the difference. We conceded, as usual, so few.
“The goal was in a set piece, the first time they shot on target, the second time they have only shot once.
“I am really pleased with this 180 minutes - in both games we played better.
“I am very pleased with the way we played, the problems we had in back four and am pleased to be three years in a row in the final.
“At Old Trafford we played really well, but I said when we lost here they don’t need much - the quality of their players up front is really good.”
