Pep Guardiola has insisted that he is "delighted" by Manchester City's performance in their 3-2 loss to Manchester United at the weekend.
The Citizens missed out on the chance to win the Premier League title against their closest rivals on home soil as they threw away a two-goal lead in the second half.
City's first home league loss of the season came fresh on the back of a 3-0 reverse to Liverpool in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie.
Despite losing back-to-back games, though, Guardiola claims that there are positives to take from the display produced by his players ahead of the second leg against Liverpool.
"To reach the semi-final would be the second time in our beautiful history," he told reporters on the eve of the match. "I don't have to talk about how beautiful it is.
"They show every single game what they want to do. I know you judge results, but performance? My team is extraordinary. Exceptional. It is a joy to be manager of the team, I am so delighted.
"After the goals against United, we still create chances. I am so delighted to lose the way we did. I don't want to lose, and we are sad because we want to be champions. But the way we played, even at 3-2, is outstanding. I am so happy. I cannot say anything else about that."
Not since December 2013, when in charge of Bayern Munich against Man City, had Guardiola lost a game in which his side was winning by a two-goal margin.
Daniel Lewis
