On Sunday when Libya officially declared nation liberated
after Gaddafi’s death, Manchester City sent a strong message that a change in
regime at Manchester was possible. Mario Balotelli who was rescued from his
Cheshire mansion on Saturday morning after setting off fireworks in his bath
room illuminated the game as City dismantled the Red Devils by 6-1 with other
goals coming from Sergio Aguero, David Silva and substitute Edin Dzeko.
Heading towards the game the two Manchester sides were
among the three of the unbeaten sides in the Premier League. United having won
each of their last 19 Premier League games at home ,their visitors were also on
a good run of form going to Old Trafford on top of the log for the first time
in 97 years.
It didn’t take long for the 160th Manchester
derby to live up to its expectations with the maverick Italian scoring on the
22nd minute with beautiful strike. After scoring he pulled a T-shirt with a
message ‘Why always me?’ That one it depends how you want to interpret it, it’s
either because he is always in trouble or he is always banging goals having
scored 5 in 5 matches .One who would have thought that the Red Devils will
bounce back having done that in previous encounters but Man City defended with
defiance.
Roberto Mancini’s
side went into the interval with their noses in front, at that time the Old
Trafford was muted and once you silence the home fans half the job is done.
Nani couldn’t get past Clichy and his team mate Ashley Young also failed to get
better of Richards. Manchester
united didn’t threaten too much, with
their central midfield of Anderson and Fletcher not so in control.
A goal down at half time, logic says Fergie would have
gone and knocked some sense into the heads of his players. But having gone to
the interval a goal down just two minutes into the 2nd half United
found themselves a man down when defender Johnny Evans was given the marching
orders. It could have been a disaster but it was fortunate for the home side as
Mario was brought down outside the box. When you take a closer look at the
incident Balotelli didn’t pose any threat what so ever. The clumsy challenge
was a result of lazy defending which really had serious implications as the
game progressed.
Despite being a man alight United had the belief that
they can claw back as they kept pushing City with noise level rising inside the
theatre of dreams but City held on. At this point concentration was always
going to be the key with united throwing more man forward living themselves
vulnerable at the back City managed to pull some neat inter play which resulted
in Balotelli doubling the lead and turning Old Trafford blue.
It became clear that the home defence was shaky with City
taking full advantage of woeful defending.
Sir Alex Ferguson side was exposed by City’s devastating counter attacks
and beautiful football which resulted in four more goals being conceded in the
process.
Darren Fletcher attempt was too little too late as things
even got worse after his strike that gave hope to some united fans but it
wasn’t to be.
Manchester city might not win the league this season but
you got to admit that since their shift of ambition they are growing and
getting better as they aim to be one of the challengers in the Premier League.
It will be unfair not to give them credit after the performance they put
against United, at the same time we cannot point out to the red card because
City were fantastic.
In the post-match interview Mancini played down the
significance of the result stating that only 3 points were important to them.
Surely not so many teams if not none can do what City did at Old Trafford.
Roberto Mancini said “It’s important for our confidence- it’s not easy to come
here and beat United. Now we have one game less to play. We have three more
points, and we have been to Old Trafford.”
When the referee blew the final whistle, it was always
going to be interesting to hear what Ferguson had to say for himself and soon
after the Scot admitted that it was their worst day ever in his quarter of a
century in charge at United. “It is the worst result in my history, ever. Even
as a player I don’t think I ever lost 6-1. That’s a challenge for me too. The
sending off was a killer for us. We kept attacking when we went 4-1 down and we
should have just said: ‘we’ve had our day.”
At the end it was the day City fans turned their backs in
celebration as their team stretched the lead to 5 points and united fans closed
their eyes in disbelief and embarrassment.
By Terence Mthembu
