Erling Haaland and Phil Foden BOTH net derby hat-tricks in a brutal show of strength – with Antony strike and Anthony Martial’s late double only a consolation.
Erling Haaland and Phil Foden scored hat-tricks as Man City thumped Man Utd at the Etihad on Sunday as Cristiano Ronaldo was an unused substitute for the first time this season.
Pep Guardiola’s men secured a 6-3 victory over rivals Manchester United in the derby at the weekend.
Erling Haaland and Phil Foden joined Francis Lee and Horace Barnes – in 1970 and 1921, no less – in City’s annals and this was certainly an event that will live long in the memory of all who were there, no matter on which side of the red and blue divide. For the visitors it will have been as painful as it was joyful for the victors.
United’s recent results, especially the win over Liverpool at Old Trafford, have lifted the mood but the way they were overpowered and dismissed by Manchester City is a more accurate measure of where they stand, namely some distance from a title challenge.
This will come as no surprise to Ten Hag, who knew the scale of his task after those opening two Premier League defeats by Brighton and at Brentford, but what will be painful was the scale of United’s deficit in quality compared with City.
United were 4-0 down at half-time and all that stopped it becoming ten was that the match was by then over and modern players need to conserve energy in this of all seasons. So City no longer floored the accelerator and Manchester United achieved a measure of respectability. Unless you saw the game, of course. Witnesses will confirm that this was a battering not a battle royal and United look as far behind their neighbours as they have at any time since they were in separate divisions.
Manchester United’s £85million signing Antony reportedly ignored orders from Erik ten Hag to track back and help the defence during Sunday’s 6-3 drubbing by Manchester City.
While the Brazilian winger did score at the Etihad Stadium on what was a humiliating afternoon for United, he apparently didn’t do enough defensively.
Despite an impressive first-half performance, City manager Guardiola insisted there was still room for improvement from his side.
Ten Hag will not have been fooled by Manchester United’s recent renaissance of sorts, but this must have been the coldest of showers for anyone at Old Trafford thinking they might be moving closer to those they hope to eventually challenge
My Goat Sports 