They share the same town. But Manchester City and United might as well be inhabiting different planets.
Because if the latest derby between the two confirmed one thing, it’s that City continue to be out of this world, while United are travelling full speed on the road to nowhere. It feels like the superlatives have run out when it comes to describing how good Pep Guardiola’s reigning champions are.
City toyed with and then destroyed United in the second half at Old Trafford, where home supporters flooded out with ten minutes remaining. Not to beat the traffic, but to spare themselves more visual pain.
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But when it comes to summing up United, it’s also difficult to find the words, albeit for very different reasons. City remain a supremely coached team full of world class stars who know their exact roles in it.
United are a side thrown together, one made up of expensive misfits lacking hunger, desire, passion and the required structure and work rate. But when Bruno Fernandes is the chosen captain, what do people expect?
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To lament United as dysfunctional would be too kind. And what planet is Erik ten Hag on when he emerges from the wreckage of a pummelling to claim United were “good” at times? I must have missed that, Erik. United were outclassed from start to finish.
Ten Hag’s failures resembled the ‘Dog & Duck’ in the second half, as City dished out a schooling to embarrass their neighbours in their own home. And remind them who rules English football – let alone Manchester.
BBC pundit Danny Murphy was spot on when he said: “They’re all over the place, Manchester United. I don’t think there’s enough repercussions for the players who don’t do the work. Too many United players get away with defending when they want. It’s really basic stuff that they’re not doing.”
City have one more point after 10 league games than they did at this stage last season, and are two points nearer the top at the same stage, which is frightening, considering Guardiola’s men went on to win the Treble. But the really scary stuff this Halloween is the horror show unfolding across town, where a storm has swept in to demolish the foundations Ten Hag laid in his first campaign.
United finished third last season, won a trophy and secured Champions League qualification. They were expected to kick on, but United have gone backwards faster than Max Verstappen in reverse.
United have lost half of their 10 league games so far. The last time this happened was in 1986 when Ron Atkinson was manager – and look how that turned out! Ten Hag has spent close to £400million since taking charge, but the likes of Antony and Mason Mount can’t get in the team, while Rasmus Hojlund looks out of his depth.
And while he didn’t sign them, Jadon Sancho continues to find himself in the deep freeze, training and eating alone, while Raphael Varane saw Jonny Evans and Harry Maguire picked ahead of him for the visit of City. Varane has won the World Cup and four Champions League titles, for heaven’s sake.
Any team is a reflection of the bloke who manages it, which should be of huge concern to United CEO Richard Arnold as he picks through the pieces of another shattering defeat for his fallen giants. City keep shooting for the stars, while United keep shooting themselves in the foot.
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