MAN CITY 4, MAN UNITED 1
Manchester City produced a derby performance of championship quality which underlined the gulf in class between them and their sorry neighbours who are a shadow of their former selves.
It was the blue half of Manchester which was celebrating as imperious City extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to six points.
Two goals apiece from Kevin De Bruyne and the in-form Riyad Mahrez, who had scored more goals since December – 14 – than Harry Kane and Mo Salah have netted, confirmed City’s superiority.
It was also only the second time Pep Guardiola had achieved a league double over United in his five seasons as manager.
This was also the 50th time City had scored four or more goals in a league game since Guardiola became manager, nine more than next-best Liverpool.
But it was an awful showing from United with former Red Gary Neville critical of the performance in the loss which dealt a further blow to their hopes of a top-four finish to qualify for the Champions League as they languish in fifth place 22 points adrift of their neighbours.
United had won on each of their last three league visits to the Etihad but there was never any chance of them extending that impressive sequence in this, the 50th derby of the Premier League era and 187th of all time.
Embed from Getty ImagesNeville said: “The first thing to say is that City were absolutely outstanding, particularly in that second half.
“United showed real intent in the first half but they finished like an absolute shower. They were a disgrace in that last 25 minutes.
“This is the first time Ralf Rangnick has come up against a proper team – and they’ve been given a proper doing.”
Roy Keane added: “United gave up and in a derby, in any game, it’s unforgivable.
“I can forgive mistakes, but not running back, not trying to tackle – there are players out there who shouldn’t play for Manchester United again.
“There is no hiding place in top-level sport. We’ve all lost football matches but it’s the way they’ve lost it. You expect them surely to play with a bit of pride but that’s a reflection of where the team is at the moment.
“If you can’t run back and put your body on the line when you’re playing for Manchester United, it’s shameful.”
Rangnick denied the accusation his players did not try.
He said: “I think we played a good, if not decent first half. We were competitive. It was difficult to concede an early goal.
“We came back, scored a brilliant goal ourselves then conceded another on the counter. It was a very difficult game against one of the best teams in the world. We conceded a fourth in the last minute of the game. It is a difficult game that shows we have a long way to go to close that gap.”
On whether the game showed the gap between the clubs, Rangnick continued: “In the second half it did but the first half was a competitive game. Everyone knows how good they are. They are one of the top teams in the world and there is a gap between the two teams.
“We are fully aware we need to win games. This is one of the most difficult. It is accepting they were the better team today. But we look ahead to the next games, and we need to win the next two home games against Tottenham and Atletico Madrid – they are essential to us.”
Guardiola was delighted with his side.
He said: “In the first half we struggled, but they did not cause us many problems.
“I am so demanding and the biggest critic. I know my limits and the limits of my players but in the second half we played really good.
“It is our job to make our fans happy and they went home happy.”
City made three changes for the derby as Kyle Walker came into the defence with John Stones switching into the middle from right-back in place of the injured Ruben Dias.
Further forward, Jack Grealish and Mahrez came into the attack with Raheem Sterling and Ilkay Gundogan dropping to the bench.
United were without injured Cristiano Ronaldo and Covid-19 victims Rafael Varane and Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire being recalled to the defence to replace the latter.
It had been reported that Marcus Rashford would lead the attack in Ronaldo’s absence, but the England forward is on the bench. Jadon Sancho played instead with Bruno Fernandes a false nine.
In a third change from the 0-0 draw with Watford, the fit-again Scott McTominay returned to midfield in place of Nemanja Matic.
There was one minute’s applause in support of Ukraine before kick off as both teams lined up around the centre circle in alternate colours while a giant banner was unfurled saying ‘No wae’.
United made a bright start in which their high-press unsettled City.
However, City went ahead following their first attack of the match in the fifth minute.
Bernardo Silva cut the ball for De Bruyne to fire home a low shot for his 50th for the club in the Premier League.
United had another let off when De Bruyne’s angled effort was parried by David De Gea.
Phil Foden appeared to be wrestled by Harry Maguire as he looked to convert the rebound but, to the amazement of everyone, the City man was penalised.
The home fans were silenced mid-half when United equalised following a counterattack.
Paul Pogba’s great diagonal ball released Sancho who cut in from the left before bending a shot past Ederson into the far corner, his fifth goal of the season on his first return since he was a City youngster.
City nearly regained the lead when Foden’s looping header from Joao Cancelo’s cross hit the crossbar.
But they were back ahead in the 28th minute when De Bruyne struck again.
Foden flicked the ball over Victor Lindelof before being denied by a smart save from De Gea. Bernardo Silva’s follow-up was blocked by Maguire and then the loose ball was rifled home for his 10th goal of the season.
De Bruyne became the first player to score a brace in a derby since Sergio Aguero in 2015.
This pulsating game had everything, even a two-minute stoppage for a medical emergency in the crowd as paramedics raced to an incident behind the goal United were defending. It was reported a fan had a suspected heart attack.
Pogba gave away the ball leading to a City break as De Bruyne fed Foden who dragged his shot wide.
City had another chance to add a third goal when Mahrez cut in from the right and forced an excellent stop from De Gea diving low to his right.
The second half began with City on the front foot as United were continually on the retreat with several goal attempts blocked and other ball fizzing across the face of goal with nobody able to get on the end of them.
There was a standing ovation for Ukrainian Oleksandr Zinchenko when he went to warm up with his country’s yellow and blue flags waved in support.
United made a double change mid-half as Pogba and Anthony Elanga made way for Rashford and Jesse Lingard.
City added a third goal in the 68th minute from a well-rehearsed corner. De Bruyne’s long ball to the far edge of the box was met by Mahrez with the sweetest of half volleys low to the right of De Gea for his 20th goal of a remarkable season.
And it might have been 21 not long after when his fierce angled drive was beaten out by De Gea.
City made their first change with 10 minutes left when De Bruyne, who looked to have picked up a knock, was replaced by Ilkay Gundogan who was making his 150th appearance for the club.
Confidence was oozing from City, underlined by Cancelo’s acrobatic scissor kick from Walker’s cross which brought another super stop from De Gea.
It was party time with the biggest Poznan celebration imaginable which took in the whole of the ground.
A fourth goal continued to elude City as Gundogan dragged a shot disappointingly wide.
But it finally came just as the game was entering two minutes of stoppage time when Mahrez, released by Gundogan, found the net for a second time for his 14th goal since the start of December.
It was initialy ruled out by an assistant referee’s flag, but VAR overruled it saying Telles played him onside for what proved the icing on an impressive showing.