Manchester City Derby Day. Erik ten Hag’s first on the Manchester United bench against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. An adventure that is just beginning, and not in the best way, against a strategist with many experiences and stories in England.
Manchester City brought out all its power as a local. In the very Etihad Stadium, the derby quickly turned light blue, and the first half ended with a resounding 4-0 in favor of the ‘Citizens’. Strangely, Erik ten Hag, in a vital game, put Cristiano Ronaldo back on the substitutes’ bench, and in such an important game, he did not use the Portuguese.
After the FIFA break, Cristiano Ronaldo was unable to qualify for the Final Four of the Uefa Nations League after losing to Spain in the final minutes. The Portuguese’s reaction when they lost was to throw the captain’s armband to the ground in front of Fernando Santos, strategist for the national team. And the truth is that the level of the former Real Madrid is far from his best moments in his sports career.
Manchester United hid the dance with a great goal from Antony, and a brace from Anthony Martial, but nothing could stop either Erling Haaland and Phil Foden, both of whom scored a hat-trick. Erik ten Hag, who was facing his first derby in the city, explained in a press conference the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo and the points of the defeat.
Before, he analyzed the fall in the following way, “we failed to believe it. We didn’t defend properly and we weren’t brave with possession. We had many technical and decision-making failures. So can not be. We have to act as a team and believe it. It is something that we have already shown. In the last five games we have had the right attitude, we have believed it and we have caused problems for our rivals. Not today. I think it is something normal in our process. We have to accept it and learn from it.”
He was clear about why not include Cristiano Ronaldo when asked about his absence, and if he is already listed as the third striker, “I didn’t include him out of respect for him and his career. We were 4-1. And Anthony Martial needed minutes after his injury.” In addition to this, Casemiro was not a starter, which generated questions about the little regularity that he has had at Manchester United. Ten Hag explained, “When we signed him we started to win. The team was doing well and McTominay was doing well. I’m sure it will be important in the future.”
Manchester United must turn the page after this heavy defeat. A dance suffered by his rival, and Cristiano Ronaldo will surely be even more frustrated. They must recover in the Europa League against Omonia and then in the Premier League against Everton.
