With all eyes falling on the Etihad on Sunday afternoon, Manchester Metropolis claimed native bragging rights as they secured an exciting 3-1 comeback victory in opposition to Manchester United.
With Marcus Rashford silencing the house assist because the England worldwide produced a thunderous strike after simply eight minutes, Erik ten Hag’s males have been determined to drag off a heavyweight upset right here.
Nevertheless, whereas the Purple Devils may need put in a rugged first-half efficiency away from Previous Trafford, it was one other English ace who stole all of Sunday’s headlines.
Watching Phil Foden produce his personal stunner simply 11 minutes after coming back from the interval, the wheels rapidly got here off for United because the Sky Blues produced a rampant second-half show.
With Foden finally notching his second of the afternoon earlier than Erling Haaland wrapped up all three factors in injury-time, Pep Guardiola’s aspect moved inside only a single level of climbing again to the highest of the Premier League desk.
Overcoming what may have been a possible public banana pores and skin and producing a much more polished efficiency after coming back from the half-time break, Metropolis additionally pilled extra strain onto ten Hag’s shoulders.
On a day when Metropolis snatched native bragging rights and prolonged on their title cost, we now have taken a have a look at the important thing speaking factors from the Etihad.
Metropolis present their resolve on residence soil
Whereas Manchester Metropolis would possibly nonetheless have an actual battle on their palms of their bid to make extra Premier League historical past in 2024, Guardiola’s males are actually within the midst of an actual purple patch.
Mounting what was a vital second-half comeback right here and finally claiming Manchester bragging rights with a late flurry, the previous Barcelona boss ought to discover the temper in his camp at an actual excessive.
Changing into the primary English membership since 1999 to be topped treble champions final season, Sunday’s hosts have managed to seek out prime gear since opening up the New 12 months.
Getting their Champions League knockout stage journey underway with a routine 3-1 victory away at Copenhagen on February thirteenth, the defending champions are unbeaten in all of their earlier 19 straight appearances throughout all competitions.
Extending on their FA Cup run earlier within the week as they stormed their option to an action-packed 6-2 victory in opposition to Luton, Metropolis have additionally discovered a significant medical edge within the last third.
Guardiola payments Foden as the most effective within the Premier League
Whereas the record-breaking Haaland may need as soon as once more stolen most of Manchester Metropolis’s headlines this season, Guardiola has billed one other one among his first-team superstars as the most effective present participant within the Premier League.
Dragging Metropolis over the end line right here and placing in what was a shocking particular person efficiency on the Etihad, Foden is having fun with a record-breaking home marketing campaign on the Etihad this season.
Now bagging 11 Premier League strikes this 12 months and persevering with to obtain a string of plaudits, solely 4 different English gamers have notched extra top-flight targets to date this season.
Anticipated to play a number one function in Gareth Southgate’s EURO 24 squad this summer season, Foden has additionally acquired some monumental reward from Guardiola following Metropolis’s derby comeback right here.
With Guardiola billing his homegrown talisman as at the moment the most effective participant within the Premier League, the 23-year-old has additionally recorded 9 targets throughout all competitions since opening up the New 12 months.
Strain stays on ten Hag
Though Manchester United may need opened up 2024 on the coronary heart of a much-welcomed home enhance, it’s no secret that ten Hag nonetheless has an enormous quantity of strain on his shoulders at Previous Trafford.
With continued hypothesis that the brand new United hierarchy are eyeing a possible managerial change forward of the 2024/25 marketing campaign, Sunday’s collapse on the Etihad may show to be a important blow for the previous Ajax boss.
Now struggling back-to-back Premier League defeats and already accepting that they want an actual miracle of their bid to punch one other essential top-four end, the Reds have continued to battle with their consistency this season.
As soon as once more unable to name upon main marksman Rasmus Hojlund right here, many followers round Previous Trafford have turn out to be annoyed by ten Hag’s perceived unfavorable philosophy.
Crashing out of the Champions League again in December and breaking a string of undesirable European data, it seems that United now have all of their eggs firmly within the FA Cup basket.
Match Report
Manchester Metropolis: Emerson, Walker, Stones, Dias, Ake, Rodri, Silva, Foden, De Bruyne, Doku, Haaland
Subs: Bobb, Alvarez
Manchester United: Onana, Dalot, Varane, Evans, Lindelof, McTominay, Casemiro, Mainoo, Fernandes, Garnacho, Rashford
Subs: Kambwala, Fordon, Antony, Amrabat
Targets: Manchester Metropolis: Foden (56’, 80), Haaland (90+1’) – Manchester United: Rashford (8’)
Yellow Playing cards: Varane
Purple Playing cards: N/A
Referee: Andrew Madley
