It says everything you need to know about Manchester United’s annus horribilis of 2021/22 that their 4-1 defeat at the Etihad in the second derby of the season probably doesn’t even make a list of their top five most embarrassing days of the season.
Both defeats to Liverpool, the collapse at Brighton, the end of the Ole Gunnar Solskjaer era at Watford and the 4-2 defeat at Leicester City might all have been more galling than losing to the eventual champions, even if it’s a derby day disaster that can leave lingering scars.
United lost 6-1 to Pep Guardiola’s side across two games last season but when compared to the 9-0 scoreline in two games against Liverpool it begins to look like a respectable effort.
The Old Trafford derby came two weeks after Liverpool had run amok at the same venue and it felt like City essentially declared when leading 2-0 at half-time. When United travelled to the Etihad at the start of March their season still had something riding on it.
They had recently secured a first-leg draw against Atletico in Madrid in the Champions League last-16 and a top-four finish was still well within their grasp. On the eve of the derby, they were actually in fourth and had a two-point cushion.
United managed to lose six of their last 11 Premier League games, starting with the 4-1 defeat to City, and ended the campaign 13 points adrift of fourth.
It was clear by the start of March that Ralf Rangnick was out of ideas for this side and had failed to win over the players, but his approach at the Etihad was another line in the sand moment. Cristiano Ronaldo watched from Portugal after being told he wasn’t in the team and Rangnick went with a system that essentially saw Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba playing as false nines.
Kevin De Bruyne gave City the lead in the fifth minute and although Jadon Sancho equalised, De Bruyne restored City’s first-half lead. But it was the second-half performance that was most galling of all for those in the away end.
With the game still in the balance, United emerged from half-time and failed to lay a glove on their opponents. It was a 45-minute performance lacking fight and lacking quality.
Don’t expect the same under Erik ten Hag. This is now a side full of character, epitomised by defensive signings Lisandro Martinez and Tyrell Malacia, who have added an edge to this team. They won’t allow the deck of cards to collapse so spectacularly.
Ten Hag’s team pretty much picks itself for Sunday, but the likely absence of Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford does present an issue in attack. Had either been fit they would almost certainly have led the line, but instead it is likely to fall on Ronaldo to do so.
It would be a bitter blow for the 37-year-old if he was axed from a derby team for the second season in a row, but it isn’t beyond the realms of possibility that Ten Hag wants more pace on the break and uses Anthony Elanga.
The Dutchman is likely to learn the lesson from Rangnick’s reign, however. Ronaldo might not be firing so far this season and he doesn’t look a natural fit for Ten Hag’s United, but he is a big-game player with a point to prove, especially after going 180 minutes without a goal for Portugal during the international break.
The only time he’s found the back of the net this season was a penalty in the Europa League win in Moldova, but his experience and ability to hold the ball up might be valuable much closer to home this weekend.
United had a rotten time on derby days last season, but Ten Hag is already turning the tide and he’s unlikely to make the same mistakes as Solskjaer and Rangnick.
