It was the third humiliating defeat that Manchester United has suffered in the Premier League this season. Manchester City duo – Erling Haaland and Phil Foden proved too difficult for Manchester United’s defense to handle.
Manchester United bowed to Manchester City’s overwhelming and brilliant display at the Etihad Stadium with Phil Foden and Erling Haaland’s taking the shine and scoring hat-tricks each.
A lot has been said about the game, although a win for Manchester United would have been termed an upset; falling 6-3 to a city rival was not a good result, with the first four goals scored in the first half of the game.
Some major talking points cannot be overlooked after the one-sided derby, which was basically a Manchester City show. Erik Ten Hag needs to go back to the drawing board.
Phil Foden breaks Lionel Messi’s record
It was a clinical finish for the 22-year-old England international. Foden was on a rampage against a Man United team in disarray. He broke Lionel Messi’s record by becoming the first player to hit 50 goals at 22 under Pep Guardiola.
Phil Foden quickly recovered from a disappointing spell with England at the UEFA Nations League, sending a message to Gareth Southgate ahead of his squad naming for the 2022 World Cup in September.
Erling Haaland redefining the limits of the game
Describing Manchester City as the greatest sports project in the world with their attacking fervor suiting his preferred style, Erling Haaland was at his best since joining thr Premier League.
Haaland redefined the limit of what is possible in the game. He scored a hat-trick becoming the first player to do so in three consecutive home Premier League matches.
The former Salzburg and Borussia Dortmund player has now increased his Premier League goal tally to an astonishing 17 goals in just eight matches into the season.
Haaland needs 7 more goals to match Mohamed Salah’s total number of goals last season, which won him the Premier League top-scorer.
With his current goals per game, Haaland will certainly bypass Mohamed Salah’s record last season. Even Andrew Cole’s 34 goals in a single season, being the highest ever scored by a player, will be assailed.
The Norwegian youngster is definitely set to redefine the limits of possibilities in the Premier League as he continues on his free-scoring spree.
Currently, if Haaland continues in his goal-scoring pattern, the projection is that he will hit 71 goals at the end of the season. This is enough to accord him a new name – the goal beast.
In just eight Premier League matches, Erling Haaland arrived at the feat Cristiano Ronaldo completed in 232 games, Jamie Vardy in 277 games, and Frank Lampard in 609 games.
An unfinished task by Erik Ten Hag
Twice this season, under Erik Ten Hag, Manchester United have conceded four goals in the first half.
A disastrous second Premier League clash against Brentford saw the rickety squad slump to a 4-0 defeat, all goals coming in the first half.
At the much anticipated Manchester Derby, the scenario was repeated with the Red Devils going down easily to the Citizens in a dramatic fashion.
Also, the new signing from Borussia Dortmund, Akanji, overwhelmed Marcus Rashford, with the England international virtually invisible in the game.
The Manchester United midfield was in shambles. Bruno Fernandes and Christian Eriksen did little to stop world-class Kevin De Bruyne.
At the defense, Foden proved too clinical for Tyrel Malacia to handle. The England star brought his speed and skills to bear.
Varane limped off after sustaining an injury. Manchester United’s rickety midfield was leaving the backline under intense pressure, with Lisandro Martinez proving helpless.
David de Gea could do little to remedy the situation with Haaland’s and Foden’s strike coming as thunderbolts at lightening speed.
What is the way forward for Erik Ten Hag?
Bookmakers gave the match to Manchester City, but Manchester United were expected to give the Citizens a tough fight.
Erik Ten Hag has blamed Manchester United players with his usual post-match comment, saying that the team lacked fighting spirit right from the first half.
Roy Keane and Garry have condemned the performance as embarrassing. Despite a four-straight win for Erik Ten Hag, the Manchester derby was a perfect reality check.
Everything went wrong in the game for Manchester United; a rickety midfield; no connection between the midfield and the defense; open spaces for Manchester City to launch attacks and easily break into the box.
Starting Casemiro from the bench in such high-profile matches is not tenable, including consigning a striker with Ronaldo’s pedigree to the bench.
Apart from singing the songs of a good fighting spirit, Erik Ten Hag have to gel his team together and drop off this boat of reserved approach, bundling the entire team into their half.
