Man City’s frustration inhibits ability to stop United’s counter-attack that all but ends their title defence

Perhaps the most damning thing for Manchester City, now 14 points adrift from the perch they had so ruthlessly rebranded as theirs over the last two seasons, was that Pep Guardiola had anticipated exactly how Manchester United would approach the derby and yet they were powerless against it for large swathes at the Etihad.

“It’s clear they are a counter-attacking team,” the 48-year-old had said of the opponents on Friday, reeling off the evidence to suggest as much. 

“When I remember the goals against Chelsea at the beginning of the season, most of them were on the counter-attack. Against Liverpool, the goal was a counter-attack. They have the quality to do that.”

Guardiola was aware of United’s record against the ‘big six’ teams too – beating Frank Lampard’s charges and Leicester, drawing with Liverpool and Arsenal this season – pointing out “they’ve been able to do it regularly.” 

Yet on Saturday, with just 28 per cent possession, United had managed more shots on target than City and dissected them almost at will during an aggressive first-half display that ultimately won them the game.

If you were searching for City’s intensity and aggression in the opening 45 minutes, you will have located it cursing VAR decisions rather than ceasing United’s counters and breaking to test David De Gea. 

The visitors were already 2-0 up before David Silva had given the goalkeeper something to do and by that point, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men had missed more openings than the defending champions created. 

Guardiola was apoplectic that Michael Oliver, the main man in the VAR hub at Stockley Park, advised referee Anthony Taylor that Bernardo Silva’s impeding of Marcus Rashford – stepping across him, not playing the ball and knocking the striker over – should be given as a penalty.

It was the correct call, but the City boss already had a sense of injustice over a decision taken 10 minutes earlier. 

In the midst of a goalmouth scramble, with Gabriel Jesus sliding in to meet Bernardo’s cut-back, the ball made contact with Victor Lindelof’s arm after hitting his torso and no spot-kick was awarded – again to the application of the law. 

City seemed to be more wound up by the officiating than the fact United were shredding them with such ease so often and it was unsurprising to see them be breached quickly again after Rashford’s opener. 

Daniel James and Anthony Martial combined down the right – in another rapid, troubling transition – with the latter spinning and settling his shot into the far corner. In the space of six minutes, the home side were 2-0 down and yet the scoreline was still kind to them.

With half-time approaching, there was more vexation from City when Fred wasn’t penalised for handball after sliding in to block a cross and breaking his fall with his arm, which is considered natural.

Guardiola was still remonstrating with the fourth official Mike Dean as the teams were lining up for the second half and that frustration distinguished his side rather than the relentless finesse they are famed for. 

An improved performance from City was expected after the break as was United’s retreat, but Solskjaer’s rearguard strained every sinew in an attempt to shut them out. Nicolas Otamendi’s late header from Riyad Mahrez’s corner ensured a nervy finish, but to borrow Guardiola’s own assessment of his club’s season so far “there’s something missing.”

This is his worst points return [32] after the first 16 matches of a top-flight campaign in his managerial career and despite his admission that he “expected the dip at the beginning of the season after back-to-back titles,” it will concern the serial winner that City have surrendered some of their fear factor and ferocity. 

Guardiola stated he “would like to discover the reason for this big gap with Liverpool” and one certainly seems to be the difference in how they’ve reacted to adversity and decisions going against them this term.

You can never confidently discount a juggernaut capable of incredible winning runs in the title race, but Solskjaer got the “sucker punch” he was after, which could serve as the knockout blow for City.