Scandinavian rivalry spices up Manchester derby
EVEN in the Manchester derby’s rich tradition of drama, subplots and intrigue, today’s 191st edition can be billed as one of the most significant of recent memory.
When Manchester United welcome Manchester City to Old Trafford, an 18-year-old headline story enters a different, potential endgame phase, while a new on-field striker rivalry ignites.
The meeting of these frosty neighbours bookends the expected adieu to the Glazers’ near two-decade stranglehold on United, while up front a first showdown occurs between two young Scandinavian centre-forwards: the home side’s derby debutant Dane Rasmus Højlund; and City’s Norwegian superstar Erling Haaland.
By March’s league return meeting,
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s move to purchase 25 percent of United at a £1,3 billion premium in return for control of football policy is expected to have been sealed, and the implications for Erik ten Hag’s side and the longterm future of a storied institution should be clearer.
By then, we will know whether Ratcliffe’s desire to wrest a quarter share of the club from the six Glazer siblings will become official in time to affect transfer dealings in the January window.
Nothing is certain regarding the Glazers and business — next month marks the anniversary of their protracted plans to sell — but last winter’s month of business is, presumably, one the Ineos owner would hold up as anathema to his ambitions for United.
With Cristiano Ronaldo having exited on the same November day that the Glazers placed the club on the market, a replacement was needed, especially as a title charge was on when the January window opened.
Ten Hag’s side stood 11 points behind Arsenal going into meetings with Bournemouth, City, Crystal Palace and the Gunners.
When United defeated the Cherries and Arsenal drew with Newcastle, nine points from the next three games would have closed the gap to a maximum three.
But instead of acquiring a hungry young marksman — £35 million was Cody Gakpo’s asking price, for example — Wout Weghorst, a journeyman who misfired poorly enough for Burnley to be on a temporary deal at Besiktas, was brought in on loan.
United faltered — drawing at Palace and losing at Arsenal — owing to this acceptance of mediocrity, which points to the questionable transfer strategy overseen by the owners.
Ratcliffe, notably, flagged his own example during a presentation at the club’s Carrington training base in March, citing how the 30-year-old Casemiro was handed a four-year deal the previous summer, worth around £350 000 a week.
So, we turn to Højlund and Haaland, whose presence is a sign of the clubs’ disparate times.
In 2019, United’s bid to acquire Haaland for £20 million failed when the player chose to move from Red Bull Salzburg to Borussia Dortmund.
Last June, he accepted City’s entreaties, in a £51 million transfer that powered Guardiola’s side to last season’s treble.
City bought the finished article in Haaland whereas this summer United signed what Ten Hag characterises as the “potential” of Højlund in a £72 million deal from Atalanta.
So far, the transfer can be rated as prudent because Højlund’s blend of speed, muscularity, finishing and a winner’s attitude is what United require.
City’s supremacy and United’s struggle to again be a force is embodied by Haaland and Højlund.
Haaland arrived as a phenomenon and finished his opening campaign with a record 36 Premier League goals in an overall haul of 52 as he made the hardest part of the sport — scoring — appear simple.
This season, Haaland is up to 11 in 13 appearances.
Højlund has three goals — all in the Champions League — and is living off crumbs as Ten Hag continues to search for the right team combination and best patterns of play to feed the 20-year-old.
The manager has been hampered by injuries, the conduct of Jadon Sancho (still suspended) and Antony’s need to address accusations of violence towards more than one woman — all of which the Brazilian denies. Guardiola has his A-list creative force, Kevin De Bruyne, on the long-term absentee list with a hamstring problem and the challenge of convincing his players there is still a “mountain” to conquer after the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup sweep. — Guardian.