MANCHESTER -- Pep Guardiola refused to be drawn on suggestions from Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho that Sergio Aguero was to blame for Marouane Fellaini's red card in the Manchester derby.
Fellaini was sent off after appearing to head-butt City striker Aguero in the 84th minute of the goalless draw at the Etihad and now faces a three-match ban.
Mourinho claimed after the game that he had seen the Argentinean in the tunnel and that he had "no broken nose or broken head -- his face is as nice as always."
But Guardiola said the sending off had little impact as it came late in the match with City already well on top in the game.
"I'm not going to talk at my press conference about an action that was in the last minutes -- it did nothing to change the game -- so nothing," he told a news conference.
"Nolito against Bournemouth, he was sent off for absolutely nothing -- it was a three-game ban.
"In that situation, don't talk to me, speak with Mike Riley or the referees. The decision is the referee's not mine. I don't won't to talk about the referees -- they take the decision speak with them.
"I didn't see the action on TV, I was far away. I don't like to see guys sent off. I would prefer Fellaini to stay on the pitch but I'm not going to analyse the game for that action."
City dominated the match with 69 percent possession, 19 shots to United's three and six attempts on target while United's only effort on goal came after a miscued punch from goalkeeper Claudio Bravo.
While the point keeps Guardiola's side in the top four, it means the race for Champions League places remains extremely tight with six points between third-placed Liverpool and Arsenal in sixth.
"We have tried to monopolise the ball -- a little bit Latin style. We played to win the game but we were not able to. It's one point and the big fight will be on until the [last game at] Watford," the City boss added. "Today it was much harder against a team who haven't lost in 23 -- it was not easy but we tried. It's one point and the fight keeps going.
"The better result, of course, would have been to win the game. We have five games left, three at home and two away and we have to keep fighting.
"Leicester and Crystal Palace will not be easy -- you've seen what they have done against Arsenal and Liverpool.
"We are going to try the way we have played tonight -- creating many chances to score goals and hopefully we can qualify for Champions League."
City lost keeper Bravo to a calf injury late in the game with Willy Cabellero coming on this place and Guardiola fears he may be out for the season.
But he was buoyed by another impressive performance from captain Vincent Kompany, who has now started City's last three games and kept United danger man Marcus Rashford relatively quiet.
"He's a central defender and we speak about duels with the striker -- Kompany usually wins these duels," Guardiola said. "That is why he is an outstanding defender.
"It is not easy against players like Rashford, who are so quick but he is a very intelligent player."
