How Phil Foden's City overwhelmed United in one-sided Manchester derby

As the final whistle blew, it became yet another inevitable defeat for United, another lopsided Manchester derby that laid bare the stark contrast between the two teams. United, fully aware of City's formidable strength, had hoped to stifle their opponents with a dogged defensive approach and perhaps catch them off guard. However, their efforts proved futile, as City comfortably emerged victorious.

There's no denying that City, last season's treble winners, possess an immense ability to overpower any opponent. Yet, it was United's own feebleness that turned this encounter into a disconcerting mismatch, magnifying the vast chasm that separates these two sides. A mere glance at the statistics reveals the extent of the gap: City enjoyed a staggering 74 percent possession and unleashed 27 shots, while United managed a mere three.  

It's fitting to acknowledge that Marcus Rashford had attracted attention to himself prior to the derby by boldly declaring his unwavering dedication to United in an interview. The pressure was on the United striker to back up his words, and he did just that with a goal that will undoubtedly go down as one of the finest of his career. It was a truly sensational wonder strike, fierce and unstoppable, as the ball thundered towards the underside of City goalkeeper Ederson's crossbar before nestling into the net.

Despite their overall dominance this season, City have faced their fair share of challenges, and once again, they found themselves in a familiar position in the Premier League – needing to mount a comeback after conceding the first goal, a situation they have encountered 12 times already.  

United, in turn, owed a debt of gratitude to Andre Onana for his heroics before the halftime whistle. The goalkeeper pulled off three remarkable saves, including two crucial denials of Phil Foden, one of which was a one-on-one situation. Onana's acrobatics also saw him dive to his left to keep out a powerful volley from Rodri. In a moment that defied belief, Erling Haaland missed a golden opportunity right at the end of the first half, momentarily raising hopes that it could be United's day.

However, Foden, determined to keep City's title aspirations intact, took center stage and ensured they did not relinquish any ground in the championship race.  It is pertinent to mention that there was a certain degree of controversy surrounding Foden's equalizer. 

United manager Erik ten Hag found himself booked for vehemently arguing that his team should have been awarded a free-kick in City's half when Rashford went down following a challenge from Kyle Walker. While the extent of contact appeared minimal, it took only seconds for Foden to seize the opportunity and unleash a sublime strike, leaving Onana with no chance.

Foden continued to leave an indelible mark on the game by effortlessly evading a static Casemiro and coolly slotting home City's second goal, courtesy of a well-timed return pass from Julian Alvarez. The second half witnessed a relentless siege on the United goal, with City fully deserving their third goal.  

The final nail in the coffin was hammered when substitute Sofyan Amrabat was dispossessed by Rodri, allowing Haaland to break away and make amends for his earlier miss, ensuring he wouldn't let this opportunity slip through his fingers again.

City's triumphant run in the recent home league derbies has now reached three consecutive victories, their longest streak since 1955. These wins have come with an impressive aggregate score of 13-5. Notably, Foden, who dazzled with a memorable hat trick in last season's encounter, has continued to shine, contributing five goals in these clashes. 

The discussions about Foden's potential and the validity of Guardiola's lofty praise have now given way to undeniable proof on the pitch. Foden's involvement in 28 goals across 40 games speaks volumes about his abilities. With England manager Gareth Southgate in attendance and the squad announcement for the forthcoming European Championships on the horizon, there is no doubt that Foden must be at the core of his country's plans.  

Moreover, this victory holds significant implications for City, as they narrow the gap to just one point behind leaders Liverpool ahead of their crucial visit to Anfield next week. It serves as the perfect start to a challenging run of fixtures, with matches against fellow title contenders Liverpool and Arsenal looming before the end of March.

On the other hand, United's aspirations for a top-four finish can now be shelved, as they are a staggering 11 points adrift of fourth-placed Aston Villa and six points behind Tottenham. With 11 league defeats this season and a negative goal difference, United's struggles are undeniable. While Ten Hag insisted that the match was closer than it appeared, even the most unwavering United supporter would find it difficult to digest his assessment in the face of yet another demoralizing derby defeat.