City react to ‘racial gestures’
OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER gave Pep Guardiola a tactical masterclass as Manchester United left their bitter rivals needing a miracle to retain the title.
Less than a week after a home draw with Aston Villa cranked up the pressure on the United boss following Mauricio Pochettino’s sudden appearance on the job market, his team gave the champions a chasing on their own Etihad turf.
United were so good that first-half goals by Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial were scant reward for the level of their dominance.
City substitute Nicolas Otamendi set up a grandstand finish by heading home five minutes from time.
But any other result would have been a travesty.
Solskjaer tortured Guardiola with pure pace in a performance that even eclipsed the Champions League win at Paris SaintGermain in March that got him the job.
City are now 14 points behind leaders Liverpool – and their mask of invincibility has been ripped off.
It was an evening when United fearlessly went toe to toe with their rivals and came out on top in every individual battle.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka had Raheem Sterling in a stranglehold, Scott McTominay clamped down ruthlessly on Kevin De Bruyne, and the speed of Martial and Rashford had Fernandinho and John Stones on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
United made the champions look old, slow and clueless.
McTominay said: “We were frightening on the break.
“It is a sweet one and celebrating like that in front of the fans is a beautiful thing.”
City defender Kyle Walker added: “It is going to be difficult, Liverpool are on fire. They are getting wins and we are not. It is a big gap but we will fight until the end.”
Solskjaer was expected to instruct his team to sit back and defend.
Instead he gave Jesse Lingard licence to support a front three of Rashford, Martial and Daniel James – and ordered his men to attack.
Guardiola could not come up with an answer. Lingard and Martial forced the City keeper into action before United got the goal they had been threatening through Rashford’s penalty after 23 minutes.
Referee Anthony Taylor inexplicably missed Bernardo Silva’s clumsy lunge to take away the legs of Rashord.
But VAR official Michael Oliver did not – and Rashford needed treatment before sending Ederson the wrong way.
City had no response and the game should have been over in the five minutes it took for United to score again.
First Rashford wastefully placed a first-time shot wide with space and time to take a touch after Fred had put him clear. with monkey gestures. United goal hero Marcus Rashford: “I wasn’t aware of it during the game but it can happen and we’ve seen it happen lately.
“The fact it is still happening is not good enough.”
City released a statement last night which read: “Manchester
Then another lightning Reds counterattack ended with the United No.10 curling a glorious attempt against the crossbar.
When James’ poked pass found Martial with space to turn on the angle of City’s box, the Frenchman squeezed a low shot past Ederson’s left hand.
City responded with Gabriel Jesus heading a fine chance wide and David Silva finally forcing David De Gea to save.
And Guardiola went in at the break furious that a VAR check failed to bring a penalty when Fred blocked Walker’s cross with his right arm.
United had to dig deep after the break as City grew desperate.
The frustration of the home fans boiled over when United midfielder Fred was stuck by an object thrown from the crowd.
Then, with five minutes to go, City were back in it. Otamendi arrived late to thunder home a header from Riyad Mahrez’s corner. And Mahrez thought he had equalised almost immediately when his shot was palmed away by De Gea.
United deserved their win – and the standing ovation they got from Sir Alex Ferguson in the directors’ box at the final whistle.
City are aware of a video circulating on social media which appears to show a supporter making racial gestures during the second half of the match against Manchester United this evening.
“Officials from the club are working with Greater Manchester Police in order to help them identify any individuals concerned and assist with their enquiries.”
City boss Pep Guardiola said: “I support the statement the club has put out.
“I support the club and the police and hopefully they will take the right decision and hopefully it won’t happen again.
“We must continue to fight against this.”