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WHEN they are like this, you have to wonder how Manchester
United are 11 points behind their rivals in the city.
This was a masterful performance against elite opposition like Ole
Gunnar Solskjaer’s men stopped Manchester City’s 21-game win
streak.
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It was all here: the intensity of the high press, the raw rhythm in the
break through, the bruised defensive blocks.
The way Luke Shaw swept from the left side like a Roberto Carlos from the last few days.
The way Fred stalked Kevin De Bruyne like a crazed stalker.
And the way Harry Maguire got stuck in that famous oversized bonce of his
and again.
United’s victory is surely too late to reopen a title race, but
evaporated the idea of the city imperiously strolling towards a quadruple
and contributed greatly to ensuring Champions League football in Old
Trafford next quarter.
Bruno Fernandes scored a penalty in the second minute and Shaw scored a
second brilliant, with a helping hand from goalkeeper Dean Henderson, who
he looked so much better than an understudy.
Even these days behind closed doors, derby matches can become obstacle crushers.
United had failed to score in their last six Premier League games
with rivals from the ‘big six’ and City had been breaking it relentlessly
up to this.
United have delayed City coronations in the past, most memorable
when José Mourinho roared two against to win here in 2018.
In fact, United have won four of their last five visits to the
Etihad, but none have been as impressive as this one.
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They scold City, like they used to scold Liverpool during the
Anfield club dominance in the 1970s and 1980s.
That’s not enough for a club of United’s stature, but it sure can be a
comfort.
If only there were pubs and offices open for United fans to sing inside.
Instead, the city was gray and silent on the day of the derby, a year after
City’s 2-0 defeat at Old Trafford, which was the last Premier League
match played in Manchester in front of the fans.
That result, during a long and relative slump on Guardiola’s side,
it seemed a life away now.
United came after three straight goalless draws, but
stormed City early on and won his penalty after just 45
seconds.
Gabriel Jesús had lost possession in midfield but the Brazilian
The forward’s atonement effort proved disastrous when he flipped
Anthony Martial just as the Frenchman had thrown himself into the box.
Ref Anthony Taylor pointed directly to the spot and Fernandes shuffled
and crashed into the far corner, even though Ederson got a
hand to your effort.
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Suddenly, City looked around the entire store in defense, Joao Cancelo was
caught loitering in his own area and was robbed by Shaw, who shot
directly to the goalkeeper.
Then Fred dispossessed De Bruyne and Marcus Rashford shot with an arrow
that Ederson saved at his nearby post.
Fred had clearly been appointed to do a job at De Bruyne and soon
center his teammate number 17 falling into the technical area of Solskjaer with
a difficult challenge, but fair.
United’s Brazilian enforcer soon generated calls for a City
penalty after a challenge to Raheem Sterling, but the winger was gone
down too easily.
A long-distance shot from Olksandr Zinchenko was the first tester for
United goalkeeper Henderson – covering David De Gea’s paternity leave –
the English dive to push it away.
Threatening at the break
Apparently, Maguire was booked for approaching Jesus too well: a hit
effort that won the ball cleanly but upset the sensitive Taylor.
The volume and intensity of the oaths of both banks made you
imagine, monetarily, that this is being played out in front of a suitable crowd.
Henderson flipped a 30-yard free throw from De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez
fired a very wide shot, Jesus collided with the post at high speed while
tried to divert him home.
But United frequently threatened at halftime: Dan James finished
half stretching the City defense with a blast from its butt
rhythm.
At the beginning of the second half, Rodrigo fired a shot against the angle of
crossbar and post.
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Then that simple but brilliant United runner-up, Henderson’s long
pitch spotting an unmarked Shaw, who outpointed two City players,
exchanged passes with Rashford and directed his shot into the far
mail.
Scott McTominay fought his way through the defense of the city to liberate
Marcial, but the Frenchman’s shot was saved by Ederson before he looked.
waiting for an offside flash that didn’t come.
Phil Foden replaced Jesus with 20 minutes remaining and it soon passed
Victor Lindelof just to shoot wide, then Sterling threw himself into a
Walker fired but couldn’t push him over the line.
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