Champs expose pretenders
City’s lead over United biggest at this stage of season since start of Premier League era
The fourth goal in the Manchester derby showed the gulf between the two rivals isn’t only widening in their Premier League positions but in technical quality as well.
With slickness and finesse, Manchester City strung together 44 passes before Ilkay Gundogan completed a 3-1 victory for the league leaders over Manchester United yesterday.
City’s 12-point advantage over United is the largest after 12 games in the post-1992 Premier League era. And Jose Mourinho’s eighth-placed team is as close to Cardiff City in the relegation zone as to City at the top.
“I think we are not going to be relegated,” Mourinho said dryly, when United’s position was pointed out. “It’s not a bad performance at all, it’s a performance with mistakes. We paid for the mistakes. All three goals are our mistakes.”
Completely outplayed by English football’s dominant force, Mourinho has little prospect of dethroning City as champions. A third attempt at bringing the league trophy to Old Trafford for the first time since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 appears over after barely a third of the season.
City’s opener came in the 13th minute when Raheem Sterling crossed to Bernardo Silva, who cut the ball back for David Silva to sweep into the net.
The only surprise was City’s inability to pile on more goals. Sergio Aguero doubled the lead soon after the break. Anthony Martial gave the visitors hope when his penalty brought the score back to 2-1 around the hour mark but that was United’s
only shot on target. United were restricted to 36 per cent possession and lacked the verve of the injured Paul Pogba.
City’s third goal came in the 44-pass move that started with Benjamin Mendy seizing control of the ball and ended with Gundogan left clear by Nemanja Matic to meet Bernardo Silva’s cross and put the ball past David De Gea in the 86th minute.
“We’re scoring a lot of goals, creating a lot of chances, conceding few,” City manager Pep Guardiola said, “and that is a rhythm.”
Mourinho blamed the Champions League for United’s collapse yesterday. While his side had a tough midweek trip to Juventus, coming from behind to win 2-1, City beat a weak Shakhtar Donetsk 6-0 at home.
“I’m not going to give that as an
excuse,” said Mourinho, “that’s not me.” Only he did. “Everybody has to agree,” said Mourinho. “One thing is to go to Juventus and play one of the best teams in the world and play for 94 minutes in the limits, not just the physical but the mental. It’s another thing to beat Shakhtar Donetsk at home and enjoy the game and be relaxed.”