Manchester United Handed A Harsh Dose Of Reality In The Derby

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 02: Fred, Victor Lindelöf, Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot of … [+] Manchester United cut dejected figures following the Premier League match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Etihad Stadium on October 02, 2022 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

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“We want ten”

It was in the immediate aftermath of Manchester City scoring a sixth goal on their way to a 6-3 win over Manchester United on Sunday at the Etihad stadium that their fans began to chant that they wanted double figures.

These same City fans soon turned their backs on the pitch, put their arms around each other’s shoulders and jumped up and down to do “The Poznan”, a celebration they perform during memorable victories, and to humiliate their vanquished rivals.

This was an embarrassing afternoon for Manchester United crammed full of a season’s worth of horribly awkward and uncomfortable moments.

It was too much for many of their travelling fans, some of whom left the stadium as early as half-time when they were losing 4-0, and by the final whistle the away end was less than half full. It was simply too painful to watch.

It wasn’t meant to be like this for United. They had entered the game buoyed by a cautious optimism after winning their previous four Premier League games, but by the end the reigning champions had delivered them a harsh dose of reality.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 02: Erling Haaland of Manchester City celebrates with the match ball … [+] after scoring a hat trick following the Premier League match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Etihad Stadium on October 02, 2022 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Lynne Cameron – Manchester City/Manchester City FC via Getty Images)

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United can feel aggrieved that after beating Arsenal 3-1 at the start of September they had lost the momentum of their short winning run with the postponement of their next two Premier League games following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

It meant United had not played a Premier League fixture for nearly a month and it showed in the first ten minutes as they were completely dominated by City.

From the start City swarmed all over United, cutting through them with an alarming ease, and after eight minutes took a 1-0 lead through Phil Foden. In the first ten minutes City had four shots at goal and could already have won the game.

As good as City were, United were dreadful, and kept giving the ball away cheaply in dangerous areas. They looked nervous, and unable to even master the basics.

By the 23^rd minute both of United’s full-backs Diogo Dalot and Tyrell Malacia had been booked, after fouls which showed they were unable to cope with the speed and directness of City’s relentless attacks.

Manchester United’s Portuguese defender Diogo Dalot (R) vies with Manchester City’s English … [+] midfielder Jack Grealish during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on October 2, 2022. – RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Lindsey Parnaby / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP via Getty Images)

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But the United defence were left exposed by the lack of any discernible midfield in front of them, and time and time again City’s attacking players were able to drive through the middle of the pitch without the inconvenience of a tackle or even being pursued.

United’s best player so far this season Raphael Varane picked up an ankle injury after 33 minutes, and while he was off the pitch receiving treatment Erling Haaland scored from a corner. The Frenchman soon had to be replaced and by half-time City led 4-0.

The Premier League season is only eight games old for United, but this is already the second time they have been trailing by four goals at half-time, after being in the same position at Brentford in August.

On that occasion United meekly surrendered to their fate in west London, but here they managed to muster some fight and pulled a goal back from Antony. It will come as little consolation it was a fine strike, comfortably the best of the game.

After City had extended their lead to 6-1 and Haaland and Foden had each helped themselves to a hat-trick United scored twice more through Anthony Martial, who had come on as a substitute after 59 minutes for the ineffective Marcus Rashford.

It was once again scant consolation for United as by this time City had already had their fun and eased off, but it made the score line a little more respectable, and will have boosted Martial’s personal confidence after a spell out with injury.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 02: Chief executive of Manchester United Richard Arnold, former chief … [+] executive of Manchester United David Gill and Sir Alex Ferguson look dejected during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Etihad Stadium on October 2, 2022 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)

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The television cameras kept panning to the former United manager Sir Alex Ferguson sitting in the director’s box, showing his face etched with pain and misery.

Down below him the current United manager Erik ten Hag cast a dejected figure, and afterwards he blamed the defeat on his team playing without any real belief.

“It’s quite simple, it’s a lack of belief,” he said. “When you don’t believe on the pitch then you can’t win games, that is unacceptable. We get undisciplined at following rules and you get hammered, that’s happened today.

“For me it was a surprise. We were not on the front foot, we were not brave on the ball and there were spaces to play but we were not brave enough. All the credit to City, but it’s nothing to do with City, our performance was not good. It had to do with the belief as individuals and as team.”

This defeat was not as shocking as losing 4-0 to Brentford, for since then Ten Hag has proven he can thrive in English football with those four wins, including against Liverpool and Arsenal.

This defeat came against City who are six years into their project with Pep Guardiola, while United are only three months in to their own project with Ten Hag.

The Dutchman would have learned a lot from this defeat, even if most of it would not have pleased him, but his immediate task is now to instil some greater belief into his players before they face Everton at Goodison Park next Sunday.

Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/sampilger/2022/10/02/manchester-united-handed-a-harsh-dose-of-reality-in-the-derby/