Pep Guardiola reportedly used a clip involving Bruno Fernandes to send a strong message to his Manchester City squad following last season’s Manchester derby victory over Manchester United.
City’s campaign had begun in uncertain fashion, with two defeats from their opening three Premier League matches raising questions about whether Guardiola’s side could quickly rediscover their rhythm.
But the meeting with United at the Etihad Stadium proved to be a major shift in momentum.
A dominant 3-0 win over their local rivals restored confidence inside the City camp and reminded the rest of the division of the standards Guardiola demands from his players.
Phil Foden set the tone early in the contest with the opening goal in the 17th minute, and City never looked back as they controlled the match from start to finish.
During the game, Fernandes reacted angrily towards some of his Manchester United teammates after City’s breakthrough.
The Portugal midfielder’s visible frustration became one of the moments Guardiola later focused on when reviewing the derby with his own players.
According to reports from The Athletic, Guardiola gathered his squad the day after the victory and showed them footage of Fernandes’ reaction on the pitch.
The City manager used the moment as an example of behaviour he did not want to see within his dressing room.
The intention was not to criticise Fernandes personally, but to reinforce the values Guardiola believes are essential for success.
He wanted his players to understand that public displays of frustration aimed at teammates could damage unity and confidence during difficult moments in matches.
Guardiola has long placed enormous importance on togetherness within his squad. Throughout his managerial career, he has repeatedly stressed that collective spirit is just as important as tactical quality.
At City, players are expected to support each other when mistakes happen rather than respond with blame or anger.
That approach has helped shape one of the most successful teams in English football in recent years.
While City have built their reputation on technical brilliance and attacking football, Guardiola has also worked hard to create a dressing room environment built on trust and accountability.
Guardiola’s emphasis on unity among City players
The contrast between the two Manchester clubs has often been discussed over recent seasons.
United have struggled to find consistency despite several managerial changes and major investment in the transfer market, while City have continued to collect trophies under Guardiola’s leadership.
For Guardiola, maintaining harmony within the squad is viewed as a key reason behind that sustained success.
His reaction to the Fernandes incident underlined how closely he monitors the emotional behaviour of his players, especially during tense moments on the pitch.
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Mistakes, in his view, are inevitable across a demanding season, but the response to those moments can shape the mentality of a squad.
An example of that attitude could be seen in the reaction to Marc Guehi’s costly mistake against Everton later in the season.
The error led directly to a goal at a critical stage of the title race and threatened to damage City’s ambitions.
Yet there was no visible criticism from teammates. Instead, the focus remained on encouragement and moving forward collectively.
Guardiola believes that protecting confidence inside the squad is essential if players are to continue performing at the highest level.
That philosophy appeared to pay off again by the end of the campaign. Despite setbacks along the way, City still finished the season with two major trophies and renewed optimism for the future.
