What a blown chance for Manchester United. They had Manchester City right where they wanted them- at home, favored, missing their primary offensive weapon. However, it didn’t work out that way as City game out and dominated the first half of a game that was watched in 190 countries worldwide.
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho made some great halftime adjustments and fought harder in the second half, but all the scoring came in the first 45 minutes and the damage was done.
The biggest Manchester derby ever was billed as an individual battle between Mourinho and City mastermind Pep Guardiola. Rightfully so, both managers played down that angle and saw the narrative as media driven hype. But what does the result mean for both managers?
One of the famed members of United’s iconic Class of ’92 may have the answer.
On the Sky Sports’ Gary Neville Podcast, the legendary former United defender broke it down like this:
“For Pep Guardiola and City, it’s a big day. To come and win against a Jose Mourinho team is tough. He doesn’t lose many games at home and it’s a big, big moment.
“Jose Mourinho will be dented tonight, damaged slightly. He’s a man of great pride, but they’ll respond, it’s still early days, and it doesn’t tell us about the league title and where it’s going.”
“Ultimately, it means City have bragging rights this week, and that I won’t appear in Manchester as much as I would have done if United had won.”
Remember it is just one game in a very long season, and a very long individual rivalry. It was Guardiola’s eighth win over Mourinho in their 17 meets. The victory also presents Manchester City as the early Premier League title favorites. That much is now clear.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication andBold Global.
He also consistently appears on numerous radio and television talk shows all across the country. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram and Sound Cloud.