Manchester United, and Ruben Amorim, suffered a damaging and chastening defeat in the Manchester Derby.
Phil Foden’s first-half opener was followed by two second half goals from Erling Haaland, as United offered very little resistance on a day when Amorim really needed a result.
A minute’s applause was held prior to the game after the shock news that former world champion boxer, Manchester’s own Ricky Hatton, had died earlier in the day.
To say Ruben Amorim masterminded a win here last season would be a tad generous considering the spectacular way the game ended; nonetheless, the United coach has earned praise for most of United’s big game displays away from home, so even though eyebrows were raised when Kobbie Mainoo was again omitted, there was hope that there was method in the projected madness.
City started the more slick, creating a chance after just 18 seconds when Erling Haaland shot, beat Bayindir, but saw his effort go just wide.
United were not able to offer much resistance or stability in the middle but had their moments; though promising build up and positions rarely led to anything significant.
In the 18th minute, Fernandes lost his man, and Jeremy Doku embarked upon a dribble, where he beat Ugarte, found Amad and Shaw too timid in the challenge and went into the box. His first attempt at a cross was poor, but even more poorly dealt with by Ugarte. The erratic Belgian winger made no mistake with a second chance and Foden was on hand to head home.
By half time, United had managed a single shot on target, and had just 40% of the ball – a clear regression from their performance here last season.
Early in the second half, the visitors again applied pressure, but City’s determination to hold their result was found in Erling Haaland’s continuous clearances in his own box. In the 53rd minute, he was given a reward for his toil at the other end – a ball was slipped through to him, and even though De Ligt was better positioned, Shaw gave the shout for it to be his man. The former England international was nowhere near. Haaland made it 2-0.
He should have made it three minutes later – Ugarte gave the ball away sloppily, but Haaland could only hit the post.
United showed a flash of hope when Mbuemo – the best player for Amorim’s side – hit a great volley which was saved by Donnarumma, the goalkeeper who had been linked with an Old Trafford move in the summer. The Italian offers calm and presence, and while he personifies the abandonment of philosophy Pep Guardiola has undertaken in the pursuit of cold, hard trophy count, he does what a good goalkeeper does and inspires confidence in his team.
Amorim finally made changes – but not systemic – bringing on Maguire and Mainoo. Within minutes, Shaw had made a misplaced pass and City broke. Maguire was so deep in City’s half that Haaland was able to break from behind him and had the freedom of the United half to himself. He made no mistake this time.
United have conceded numerous shambolic goals in the last decade; this was up there with them. You could put it down to the system. You could put it down to the players. Harry Maguire, never the quickest, was signed as a player to help United back into the Champions League in 2019. Luke Shaw’s regression has been so severe that after the 6-1 humiliation against Tottenham at Old Trafford in 2020, Alex Telles was brought in as a replacement. It inspired a better season from Shaw; but still someway off the standard needed. That both, or indeed either, were on the pitch as United were seeing out a Manchester Derby in late 2025 is a damning indictment of the turnover at the club.
Altay Bayindir didn’t cost United any goals but he had some dodgy moments and you always wonder a straightforward question… would a better goalkeeper help United be better? It sounds simple, and the answer probably is, and it’s probably a question to be asked of numerous positions on the pitch and even on the sideline.
Of course it’s not quite so simple. Even with City’s relative underperformance last season, their ability to turn over players is still too prolific for United to countenance. Pep Guardiola wasn’t happy with the replacement for Ederson, so within two weeks he went out and signed another one – the goalkeeper of the Champions League winners. United are stuck with players they couldn’t get rid of, players who have stayed so long through underperformance that they’ve been turned into cult heroes.
Other issues are an indictment of the manager’s strategy. Manu Ugarte had the worst possible game when Amorim needed a big performance. When Mainoo finally made the pitch, his classy and progressive way made the selection look even more questionable.
Questionable, especially when the manager makes such a profound point about particular qualities for particular roles… and those statements are meant to explain why certain players don’t play. Yet Ugarte, who does nothing that Mainoo doesn’t do, gets in; Luke Shaw and Maguire continue to play; Fernandes plays in central midfield; and at no point does the manager think that maybe he ought to at least think about adapting his team.
There are no prizes – literally – for mere adherence to a formation come what may. There’s no place in football history for having only a plan A, and it’s a fallacy to buy into the idea that it worked for anyone else. Even his opponent today, the man rated as the best of his generation (whether you agree or disagree, I happen to disagree but) adapted and just signed Haaland and now Donnarumma when it actually came down to the real business of winning.
These don’t have to be era-shifters. They just have to show understanding – a basic understanding at that – of the strengths and weaknesses of your team. Alex Ferguson asked Ji-Sung Park to man-mark Andrea Pirlo. He played his tallest players against Stoke City. Today, yet again, it was easy for City to set up against Amorim’s system. United were as far away as ever.
Were there any good moments? Even in them, you wonder. Mbeumo was good with no caveats. Sesko was decent, and actually looked like a striker, but didn’t have the service. Dorgu once again got into some great positions – and once again was too poor once he was in them.
It’s difficult to know what to make of United and Amorim. They don’t look any closer; they don’t look as though they’re moving any closer. It’s a poor league. City looked vulnerable before the goal and, albeit at 3-0, United still created a fair few openings.
If United can’t get closer to the top of this Premier League in these circumstances then questions have to be asked of the manager and ownership. Amorim got a good result here with a good performance last season; just like then, it’s difficult to draw any concrete conclusions from an individual game.
But after a poor start to the season, Amorim needs his team to show vindication in at least some of his choices. He needs that badly. Because it’s starting to look like regression, again… the clock is starting to tick and time is beginning to run out.
Ratings : Bayindir 4, Mazraoui 5, Yoro 5, De Ligt 5, Shaw 4, Dorgu 5, Ugarte 4, Fernandes 5, Mbeumo 7, Sesko 5, Amad 5
Subs : Maguire 4, Mainoo 6, Casemiro, Zirzkee
