Pep Guardiola gets only a warning from English FA

English football governing body has decided the Manchester City manager’s declaration that there was “no problem” with Taylor, who is from Wythenshawe, officiating the 3-1 win over United this month did not cross the threshold of being worthy of a charge.

Pep Guardiola was warned by the FA on Wednesday over comments he made about referee Anthony Taylor ahead of the Manchester derby but gratefully refused to hand City's Catalan boss any sanctions for going against an established Premier League rule.

Before the victory at the Etihad Stadium on 11 November Guardiola said: “Mr Taylor is from Manchester but do people know the team he supports? Altrincham? So no problem.”

The rule states: Managers are not allowed to discuss officials before a match. However, it is understood the FA took into account the fact this was the first time Guardiola had spoken in such a manner as the deemed it unnecessary to sanction him with a mandatory fine or any sort of disciplinary measures.

Moreover, Manchester City local rivals certainly won't be pleased that Guardiola managed to avoid a fine after Mourinho was ordered to pay £50,000 for the same offence two years ago.

Mourinho was fined in 2016 for saying it would be "difficult" for Taylor to officiate a Liverpool vs United game at Anfield. However, that fine was handed down because it was the Portuguese's second offence of that type.

Nevertheless, the unwanted distraction will certainly not stop the Catalan boss from preparing the Cityzens, who return to action this weekend with a trip to the London Olympic Stadium to take on West ham United.

The game will be a renewal of familiarity between the Cityzens and the Manager [Manuel Pellegrini], who laid a solid foundation in their Magnificent history by leading them to their three Premier League title in 2016.