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Pep Guardiola said Manchester United need to take part of the blame for Alexis Sanchez's failure at the club as he backed him to thrive at Inter Milan.

The Chilean flopped during his 18 month spell at Old Trafford and a deal was agreed with the Italian side to take the former Arsenal man on loan until the end of the season.

But, Guardiola believes Sanchez can't bear the brunt of all the criticism and that some of the blame for Sanchez's failure should fall to the club.

"Football players don’t depend on one player. You judge it was a failure for just Alexis, but there are many reasons," Guardiola said. "One player here come with me and don’t play one minute, it is not for him. Quality is there. It is always there. Maybe I thought it would be good for me, it happens for many reasons. It is not only for one player that doesn’t work with one team.

"They don’t play alone, it’s not tennis, it’s not golf. Play with 10 players against one systems against opponents, against many many things are involved in one player performing well in the team.

"When one player I had in my 10 years as a manager it doesn’t work, I don’t say it’s because of him. The quality is in that level, PL level, high level in Italy and Spain, they are incredible players all of them."

City wanted to sign the Chilean before he decided on a move to Manchester United and Guardiola was asked if he believed the 30-year-old would have shone at the Etihad.

"No because I don’t know. Maybe he would have been bad too. I don’t know," Guardiola added. "The moment he decided to go to United was perfect, I wished him all the best here and personally and that’s all."

Sanchez has joined former United striker Romelu Lukaku at Inter and Guardiola that Sanchez, who he worked with at Barcelona, will be a success over there.

"He decide to move Italy with one of the greatest teams in Europe with Inter right now, incredible manager with Antonio Conte and I’m pretty sure they are going to do well," Guardiola added. "Because the way I think Inter plays, it suits perfect for him. Play close to Lukaku and in this position I think he is going to have a good period in Milan."