Man City Demolish United in Derby Showdown: Three Brutal Lessons from Old Trafford's Nightmare
Manchester United aimed to demonstrate that their thrilling 3–2 triumph against Burnley prior to the September international pause wasn't merely papering over cracks when they traveled to the Etihad this Sunday.
The Red Devils have secured notable victories at Manchester City's fortress in recent seasons, and the weaknesses shown by the former dominant force might have convinced some United fans that consecutive wins were achievable. Perhaps that individual might finally get a trim soon.
Nevertheless, rather than securing neighborhood supremacy once more, United descended into indifference against their crosstown enemies. Pep Guardiola's squad dominated the visitors, coasting to a comfortable 3–0 triumph.
Consequently, a recognizable sense of disappointment lingers for the Red Devils, who will persist in questioning whether Ruben Amorim possesses the qualities to guide this troubled project ahead.
Below are the key observations from Sunday's Manchester Derby.
Central Chaos
The signs were evident for Manchester United when Amorim selected a central partnership featuring Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte. Honestly, all of United's possible combinations carry drawbacks, but utilizing this duo in such a fixture seemed like a significant gamble.
Fernandes has remained the pulse of this United squad, yet he continues to create a complex tactical puzzle for the limited Amorim. Position him in the attacking trio and United struggle in possession buildup, but deploy him deeper and opposition midfielders will inevitably escape his marking.
The pair could do little to prevent City's clear numerical advantage in midfield, with Phil Foden, Tijjani Reijnders and Jérémy Doku surrounding United's partnership to enhance ball movement. The Citizens weren't particularly smooth with their possession, as Rodri and Reijnders showed carelessness at times, yet they dominated United's central duo throughout the opening period especially. This problem could only be addressed by Leny Yoro stepping up to cover Doku, which naturally created space for Erling Haaland to capitalize on.
Therefore, a clear tactical flaw existed, but Amorim's dubious player choices also proved problematic. For Foden's opening goal, Fernandes, similar to the Fulham match in Gameweek 2, neglected to follow the City midfielder's movement, permitting him to score with a header from Doku's delivery.
With every passing match, United's failure to sign a midfielder during the summer appears increasingly expensive.
Sesko Struggles in Premier League Debut
Injuries to Matheus Cunha and Mason Mount created an opportunity for Benjamin Šeško to earn his inaugural Premier League start, having made several substitute appearances before the September interval. The Slovenian's only United start came during that memorable evening in Grimsby.
The forward has spent just months adapting to English football, yet this represented a significant chance for him in his first Manchester Derby. Pep Guardiola's City have demonstrated vulnerabilities without possession, with their advanced defensive positioning certainly appealing to United's pacey new attacking weapon.
Space existed behind City's backline for Šeško to exploit, who helped create their promising early momentum before disappearing. The 22-year-old showed glimpses of potential, but his overall performance appears raw and erratic. Considering the transfer fee United invested in his acquisition, expectations must exist for Šeško to deliver greater impact. Development time is necessary for such talent, but initial indicators suggest he might fall victim to the Man Utd spotlight like numerous predecessors recently.
Foden's Renaissance
The derby carried emotional weight at the Etihad, with Manchester mourning Ricky Hatton's passing on Sunday morning. The former boxing legend was a passionate City fan, and there was a sense that the local icon, who cherished the derby, would significantly influence how this latest chapter unfolded.
Foden, the PFA Player of the Year during the Citizens' most recent championship season, struggled throughout 2024–25, leading some to wonder if the exceptional talent of the skilled Englishman would resurface in Manchester.
The left-footed creator hadn't found the net in Premier League action since January entering the derby, but Guardiola, with Omar Marmoush unavailable, chose to include Foden in his starting lineup for the first time this campaign.
His scoring drought ended with a precise header from Jérémy Doku's delivery, with Foden exploiting United's midfield vulnerabilities mentioned earlier. The creator positioned himself cleverly to remain beyond Ugarte or Fernandes's reach, and City's numerical superiority enhanced Foden's ability to influence and dominate the opening half.
This represented the Englishman at his brilliant peak, and he produced another excellent moment in the second period, initiating the buildup for Haaland's opening strike. While City's striker earned Player of the Match recognition, and the much-discussed Gianluigi Donnarumma impressed on debut, Foden's display would have been most reassuring for Guardiola.