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Manchester United have spent the better part of a decade in the shadow of Manchester City. The 2011 FA Cup was the first of 11 major trophies for the city’s blue team after 35 years of waiting for silverware, and it all dates back to a victory against Sir Alex Ferguson’s team in that season’s semi-finals.
As Ole Gunnar Solskjaer prepares his team to face Pep Guardiola’s team in Wednesday’s Carabao Cup semi-final (broadcast LIVE on ESPN + (US)), Could success offer you the opportunity to start a new dynasty at Old Trafford?
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The victory in the 2011 derby at Wembley marked the first time that City had beaten United on their way to success since the 1970s. Yaya Touré’s goal in the 1-0 victory set the stage not only for the victory against Stoke City in the final, but also for a Premier League title the following season and a trophy-winning mentality that has continued, virtually unabated, to this day.
It was the moment when Roberto Mancini and company realized that they could dislodge United from the top of English football; Since then, City have won four league titles compared to United’s two (the last in 2013) and finished ahead of their rivals in each of the last seven seasons.
Plus, Solskjaer oversaw three semi-final losses to United last season, so the task is simple: ditch the “near man” tag in major competitions and show that they are ready to become winners again.
There is no question that United are becoming a force to be reckoned with, having recovered from their downturns in the last two years; Beyond including those semi-final losses, there was an unconvincing Champions League campaign and October’s 6-1 home loss for Tottenham – to sit second in the Premier League and with genuine hopes of a title challenge. .
Bruno Fernandes has become a star since he arrived from Sporting Lisbon 12 months ago, Marcus Rashford continues to grow to become one of the best forwards in Europe, and across the team consistency is beginning to develop and faith is growing. .
But progress has to offer a tangible payoff at some point and Solskjaer’s United must now stop knocking on the door and find a way through it.
Last season, United were beaten in the final four by City in the Carabao Cup, Chelsea in the FA Cup and Sevilla in the Europa League. Each painful experience was a reminder of how the club has fallen in recent years and a contrast to the fact that Ferguson guided United to victory in each of their first 19 domestic cup semi-finals, before José’s Chelsea. Mourinho ended the streak in the 2005 League Cup.
However, City also had their near misses before finding the winning formula. Their defeat in the 2010 League Cup semi-finals against United was seen by Ferguson as a crucial victory that underscored his team’s preeminence, but only served to motivate City to turn the tables.
United must use last season’s disappointment to fuel their resolve, but Wednesday is about more than reaching a final, it’s also about beating City in a win or failure situation.
Solskjaer has built an impressive record against Guardiola, with three wins, one draw and one loss in their last five meetings, but that loss was a crucial 3-1 setback in the first leg of the season’s Carabao Cup semi-final. last, which gave City the cushion to resist. a 1-0 defeat in the second leg.
United can rightly claim that they have restored the balance of the head-to-head rivalry on the pitch against City, but when it comes to winning things, six major trophies have been presented to the Etihad Stadium since United won the medal for silver with the Europa League in 2017.
The city has shown how a great victory can trigger a hit streak. Now it is United’s turn to do the same by showing that they are winners. Wednesday’s clash is the perfect opportunity to take the next step.
