Pep Guardiola praises Manchester City personality and for proving you can play the 'Barcelona way' in the Premier League after win at Manchester United

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Pep Guardiola felt vindicated for playing the 'Barcelona way' after Manchester City moved 11 points clear at the top of the Premier League with victory at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Though both goals in a 2-1 win came from set pieces, City dominated Manchester United in a top-of-the-table derby.

And the Spaniard was effusive in his praise of his players for proving his style of play could translate to English football after the success he enjoyed in his homeland and at Bayern Munich.

Leroy Sane shared a picture of the Manchester City players celebrating in the changing room

Pep Guardiola was effusive in his praise of his team after a 2-1 win over Manchester United

'The personality to play here is what I want. We can play this way in England', he told Sky Sports after the game.

'People said we couldn't play the way we did in Barcelona in England but it is possible and we did it.

'I knew that last season. Always I believed we could do it. Everyone can play how they want, that's why football is so beautiful. 

'I'm happy to go to Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford and to beat them in this way.'

A second-half winner from Nicolas Otamendi gave City all three points after Marcus Rashford had cancelled out David Silva's opener.

Guardiola has now seen his side equal Arsenal's 14-match winning streak after only dropping points in a 1-1 draw with Everton back in August. 

David Silva opened the scoring for City in the first-half at Old Trafford on Sunday

Silva celebrates in front of the home supporters after scoring from close range 

He added: 'Football is incredible. We spoke about how to play United but never set-pieces offensively, and then we score two. Football is unpredictable.

'This win means a lot in the way we played for our confidence but in three days we go to Swansea in the winter time. We are going to face a lot of difficulties. In December it's impossible to be champions but it's good for us.'

City midfielder Fabian Delph claimed it was the 'sweetest' of their 15 wins from 16 in this campaign.

'Derbies are always like this - hectic and end to end - but we stuck to it. I am going to celebrate this in there [the changing room] in a minute.'

Delph handed United a lifeline when his mistake allowed Rashford to equalise on the stroke of half-time, but the England international insists he will only get better.

Marcus Rashford equalised for Manchester United moments after Silva's opener

Nicolas Otamendi was the unlikely saviour after he scored the winner in the second half

'I am learning on the game, game by game. I anticipated him winning the header and he didn't. Thankfully I have team-mates who can pull me out of the wars. They have done well for me today.

Kevin De Bruyne urged his team-mates to focus on Wednesday night's trip to Swansea after seeing Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool all drop points this weekend. 

'Lots of teams lost points this weekend so it is a big one for us [the win]. We have to enjoy it and then focus again for Wednesday,' he said.

'It is a big gap. If we slip up we are still in the lead. We can't be complacent. We need to do what we have all year. I prefer to be 11 points ahead than 11 points behind that's for sure.'

Guardiola claimed his side had proved the doubters wrong with their style of play in England