'So strong' - Pep Guardiola's assessment of Sheffield United after Manchester City win at Bramall Lane

It was Blades old boy Kyle Walker who returned to haunt his old club on Halloween, with a long-range winner at the ground where he began his professional career.

And Guardiola paid tribute to the £50m man, a boyhood Blades fan.

"I know maybe he is not so happy to score against a club he loves a lot, but for us, it was so important," the Spaniard said.

"We played really well. We struggled to score goals for the chances we created.

"But they had one clear chance, no more than that, and I'm incredibly satisfied, it's so important.

"We played a good game with the tempo we need to play against Sheffield, they are so strong in some areas.

"We played well in the first half but struggled to score goals, and when you arrive in the second half at 1-0 anything can happen.

"They had one clear chance in 90 minutes which is good for us, but we weren't clinical in the final third."

City had seen a host of chances pass them by, with Aaron Ramsdale making a fine save from point-blank range to deny Ferran Torres shortly before, but Walker's shot from 25 yards out skidded off the rain-sodden surface and into the bottom corner of the net.

United had chances of their own, substitute John Lundstram blazing over after good work from fellow midfielder Sander Berge in the second half.

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