Guardiola admits City were 'a bit lucky' in 2-1 win over Sunderland

Pep Guardiola

Manchester (UK): Pep Guardiola conceded that fortune had favoured Manchester City after beginning his tenure as manager with a laboured 2-1 win over Sunderland on Saturday's Premier League opening day.

Pep Guardiola

City needed an 87th-minute own goal from Sunderland debutant Paddy McNair to secure victory at the Etihad Stadium after Sergio Aguero's fourth-minute penalty was cancelled out by forward Jermain Defoe.

"We definitely deserved the victory. The first games are always difficult," he told BT Sport. "We spoke during this week about what we had to do like a team and we did it. Sometimes, you are a little lucky.

"We should have been a bit more aggressive, but these kind of things have to happen to know how to get better in the next game."