A NEMANJA Matic-strike gave Manchester United victory in the League Cup semi-final second leg at Eastlands on Wednesday evening, but it wasn’t enough on aggregate to reach the final.

Manchester City’s 3-1 win in the first leg at Old Trafford earlier in the month sees them through to the final for the third year in a row, having won four of the last six finals.

Pep Guardiola is taking the competition as seriously as any other, and is looking forward to meeting Aston Villa at Wembley.

“Normally when you win a lot, this competition doesn’t matter, but that’s never happened with my team,” said the Catalan. 

“I am incredibly delighted for all of us because it doesn’t matter what competition we play, we try to win.

“I’m happy to get to Wembley against a historical team like Aston Villa.”

Serbian midfielder Matic was sent off with 15 minutes remaining in the game and United needing a goal to level the tie on aggregate.

It changed the dynamic of the game with the visitors previously looking like they could have added a second.

Although United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was frustrated with some decisions, he was pleased with his players’ performance.

“It’s hard to come here and score with 11, never mind 10,” said the Norwegian. 

“It’s never a sending off. It’s ironic, for me, that he gets a yellow card on his first foul and then nearly for his second — which wasn’t even a foul. Yes, the last one is a yellow card, but how many times did they foul us?

“But I want to talk about the players and the attitude they’re showing, and how far they’ve come. They’ve come here twice now in six weeks and beaten Man City.

“It’s difficult enough to beat them twice in 10 years and we’ve beaten them twice in six weeks.”

Solskjaer dropped further hints that he would like a striker to come in before the transfer window closes today, but believes new signing Bruno Fernandes is fit and ready to play, and could feature against Wolves tomorrow.