Manchester United were on the receiving end of a thrashing at the hands of neighbors Manchester City today, losing 6-3 at the Etihad.
Complaints of chaos and collapse are not unfair, but there were arguably some mitigating factors in the defeat that United fans should take into account going forward.
Firstly, City’s second and third goals, which were effectively the game deciders, were caused by an injury to Raphael Varane for which the referee did not stop play and City, in an unsportsmanlike manner, did not kick. the ball out of play for.
Varane had to leave the pitch after treatment and United’s taller defender was therefore absent for the ensuing corner, which led to the goal.
The Frenchman’s immobility was still being assessed when City broke for the third. Had Varane not been fighting, he would most likely have won the duel.
If United had gone into the break 1-0 or even 2-0, Erik ten Hag would have had a chance to turn things around.
The second mitigating factor for the defeat was that there was little luck on United’s part, both from the point of view of close decisions and ball breakage. Every turnover seemed to go to a City player, including Casemiro’s deflected interception late in the game that found its way to a Foden who appeared to be offside.
The same goal was allowed after the ball was ruled to have remained in play on the touchline by a small margin. Likewise, a brilliant goal-line clearance by Tyrell Malacia unfortunately went just past the line for Haaland’s second goal.
On another day, those few inches might have worked in United’s favour. Nothing was going right for them today.
Thirdly, despite the mistakes, lack of composure and lack of faith of the Red Devils, you have to recognize the performance of a team that is surely at this moment, by far, the best in the world.
City were unplayable at times and it seems hard to believe that any other side would have fared much better than United when City are in this mood. David de Gea scored six goals, and yet he probably didn’t make a single mistake. It was a masterclass in brutal passing and clinical finishing, particularly from De Bruyne and Haaland, two of the world’s best players at their best.
Ultimately, United managed at least not one, but three consolation goals. They tried to at least restore some pride, which is something we haven’t seen with previous coaches and in recent seasons. Ultimately, United lost by a narrower margin to City than they did to Brentford in August, which could be classed as progress of sorts.
Neither of these factors excuses United’s poor performance or masks the class chasm between the two sides. But they could offer encouragement that Ten Hag’s men can quickly bounce back from this embarrassment and while it may be a step back, fans should take heart that their team has not come full circle because of this game.
