New Delhi: When the Abu Dhabi-sponsored revolution began at Manchester City in 2008, Alex Ferguson dismissed his local rivals’ aspirations of challenging the established Premier League order as "all talk." Nearly three years later, City’s stunning ‘play’ in the 6-1 win this Sunday has forced him to eat his words.
"I can't believe the scoreline," said a shell-shocked Ferguson, after Manchester United suffered their heaviest league defeat at Old Trafford since 1955. Neither could anyone else, as his men conceded six goals at home in the league for the first time since September 1930… Ferguson wasn’t even born then!
The derby was eagerly awaited as one of the most significant in years, but rarely do ‘big’ games live up to the hype. This one exceeded it. So often the ones handing out the devastating defeats – Arsenal are still smarting from their 8-2 mauling back in August – it was United’s turn to be at the receiving end; and the medicine tasted even more sour, coming at the hands of their bitter rivals from across town.
The worst day ever of his 25-year reign, as Ferguson himself admitted it was, will have raised some very worrying questions in the 69-year-old Scot’s mind. For rarely have United been outplayed in such ruthless fashion, never mind at home where they were unbeaten in 37 games over 18 months before Sunday.
In truth though, a lot of these concerns existed even before City exposed them so brutally. Despite their blistering start to the season, United’s unsettled back-line always looked vulnerable, and opponents like Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and even Norwich City were able to create numerous chances, even as they failed to make them count.
Admittedly the dismissal of Jonny Evans at the beginning of the second half against City changed the course of the game, but the manner in which United’s defence fell apart will have alarmed their manager. While the experienced pair of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic is increasingly injury-prone and looking well past their prime, the younger brigade of Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Evans is inexperienced and error-prone.
The midfield too seems to be a little lightweight when compared to the riches available at the Eastlands, especially in the absence of Tom Cleverely. A creative presence like Wesley Sneijder would add another dimension to their play, while a more dependable midfielder in front of the back-four could help plug the holes in defence.
On the other side, Roberto Mancini has no such worries at the moment, as he celebrated his 100th game in charge of City in spectacular fashion. For a man who was not expected to be in the job for very long, the City manager has proved his detractors wrong and managed to put together a squad – with a generous injection of cash from owner Sheik Mansour, of course – that is finally starting to come together as a team on the field.
Criticized last season for being too negative, Mancini’s team have displayed an attacking mindset this season that has seen them go top of the league unbeaten after nine games with a remarkable 33 goals scored. The Italian got his tactics spot-on against United, while his handling of the Carlos Tevez debacle seems to have helped keep the big egos in the dressing room in check.
The real asset City have is their formidable squad, which was displayed in full splendour at Old Trafford as all their strikers got on the score-sheet. Sergio Aguero now has nine goals in eight league games, Edin Dzeko bagged two to take his tally up to eight, and even the temperamental Mario Balotelli has scored in five consecutive games. The goals were created by the exceptional skill of David Silva and the persistent efforts of James Milner and Yaya Toure, while Micah Richards and Vincent Kompany also put in impressive performances at the back. And the fact that Samir Nasri, Nigel de Jong and Dzeko began the match on the bench, only serves to highlight City’s squad depth.
Manchester United on the wrong side of a 6-1 result – It doesn’t happen very often, does it? The last time any team outclassed United was the 2011 Champions League final, when a Lionel Messi-inspired Barcelona ran the Red Devils ragged. However, before City get carried away to those lofty heights, they would do well to remember that despite their remarkable start to the campaign, they haven’t won anything yet. In fact, their performance in the Champions League so far has provided a sobering reality check, with City needing a last-gasp winner against Villarreal last week to notch up their first-ever win. Upstaging the 19-time domestic champions and matching their consistency and success will require much more than a league win at Old Trafford, record-breaking as it might be.
The league title cannot be decided after a mere nine games, nor can City be termed as overwhelming favourites, with both United and Chelsea expected to bounce back strongly. If they are to win the title this season, the real challenge for Mancini’s side will be to keep this form and intensity going until the end, and when the inevitable match comes along when they won’t be at their best, to then respond under pressure and pull off a win.
However, if anyone had any lingering doubts about Manchester City’s title credentials, the 6-1 demolition will have certainly put paid to those. The ‘noisy neighbours’ have announced their arrival with fanfare and style, and while the win is still worth only three points (and bragging rights until the next derby comes along), the confidence and belief that they will derive from it could prove invaluable in the long run.
Meanwhile, Ferguson will be smarting after the humiliating defeat and, given that United only get stronger as the season progresses, the title race has actually just begun. Barring a brief challenge from Arsenal and then Chelsea, Manchester United have dominated the Premier League since its inception, winning the title a record 12 times. With City emerging as the latest challengers to this supremacy, Ferguson, in the twilight of his career, has a fresh battle on his hands; and one can rest assured that the wily Scot will be more than up for the fight, even if he only stalls the shift of power to the other side of Manchester.
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