First Manchester Derby, first win 🏆.
Ruben Amorim became the first United boss to win his first derby since Sir Alex Ferguson. Ruben Amorim has beaten Pep Guardiola twice in two games in a month. That's United's first win at the Emptihad since 20/21. That's United's first win at a big 6 side since the 3-0 victory against Spurs in 21/22.
A lot of good records broken today. Usually, it's the other way round.
Sir Ruben AmorHIM.
“I also BELIEVE. Then we have Fergie time and we put the things together and something magic happened. It was a good day for us" - Ruben Amorim.
Taking inspiration from the Godfather. You love to see it.
But let's just park the excitement for a second and look at the game itself. This won't go down in memory as one of the more entertaining derbies but will be one that us United fans will cherish for a long time.
This match had the same feel as the game at Arsenal. United were in the game for large parts, had a good amount of the ball and frustrated City all while not doing much going forward. The same as at The Emirates.
What we also did similarly (and well) was not allow the home side too many opportunites.
But as seems the case with United, at some point, something goes against us.
Amorim's team concede a corner and with how poor we are at defending them, we may as well concede a goal as well.
That is exactly what we did but not in the traditional sense. City instead opt for a short corner and after a return pass, Kevin de Bruyne plays a cross that gets deflected by Amad and finds it's way perfectly onto the head of Josko Gvardiol. He gives City the lead.
Not good enough defensively from United even if there was an element of luck involved in the goal.
That meant that that was another goal conceded from a corner. This is now 42% of all our goals have been conceded from corners, the worst in the league. Even when a team is not doing much going forward, give them a corner against us and they have a good chance of scoring.
This is still an area that needs serious improving.
Not long after, there was an incident between Hojlund and Kyle Walker. The City captain gives away a foul on the United striker before there was a kerfuffle which included all 22 players.
Hojlund was not happy with the shove he received and did retaliate by putting his head onto Walker's. The defender then fell to the ground almost as if Hojlund did a Zidane on him!
It looked like the referee Anthony Taylor was going to give the City skipper a yellow card for the foul but after seeing how he reacted to that exchange with Hojlund, he should've been sent off for how embarrassing it was.
Not sure why he wasn't booked for simulation.
Having that bit of injustice just made this victory all the sweeter.
The first half ended with the home side heading into the break with a narrow lead.
United came out in the second more on the front foot which they needed to be given that they were behind as in the first 45, there was no action in the final third for Amorim's team.
However, despite being more adventurous early on, United still found it difficult to get in behind City to cause them any trouble.
The minutes rolled on and neither side looked like they were going to create anything of note. Even City appeared very flat and lacking ideas.
Both managers then started to ring the changes in the hopes that the substitutes would inject something into the game.
But for MUFC, it was those who were already on the filed that made the impact.
After some good play down the right by Mazraoui in which he won the ball from Jeremy Doku followed by a driving run, led to a pass into Hojlund who then found Bruno with a wonderful through ball to get the magnifico in one on one.
Unfortunately though, his finish was anything but magnificent as while he beat an onrushing Ederson with a chip, the captain's shot found the wrong side of the post as well in what was the best chance for either side since Gvardiol's goal.
United kept going at it despite the disappointment of not seeing that chance go in. But in the end, United finally managed to get their reward for all their endeavor.
A poor backpass from Matheus Nunes turned out to be a good through ball for Amad. His first touch took him a bit wide with Ederson coming out of his goal gain. There was a chance for Amad to shoot first time with the 'keeper leaving his goal vacant but instead took that touch.
He then did the next best thing and drew a foul in the box which led to a stonewall penalty.
Bruno stepped up and didn't let his earlier miss affect him as he did what he usually does and converts from 12 yards out.
88 minutes. 1-1. United were well and truly in it.
And just over a minute later, it was 2-1 Yanited!
Amad involved again after a ball over the top by Martinez found the 22-year-old behind the City defense. At first, the pass looked to have had too much on it and would go striaght into Ederson's hands.
Amad stretched out as far as he could and managed to get there ahead of the goalkeeper but again, his first touch put him wide decreasing the chances of scoring.
But what do I know 🤷♂️.
Even with a scuffed shot, the ball managed to somehow beat a backtracking Gvardiol who seemed to overrun the shot and miss it completely before it trickled into the net.
Amad the savior for United 🙌.
5 minutes of added time made no difference as City who lacked any attacking threat all game, struggled to create anything to trouble Onana in the dying minutes.
Another Fergie time goal to get United the 3 points in the derby. Another late winner by Amad against one of our greatest rivals as well.
Things came full circle today.
Football won 👍.
Ruben Amorim made some big calls with the omissions of both Rashford and Garnacho before the game which took all of the headlines.
His selection proved right though, as even after an early injury to Mount, his team still looked pretty good with and without the ball. There was good possession and while there was not much happening going forward, he will be happy to have seen a United side that were a lot braver in possession compared to that loss at Arsenal.
Not giving away too many chances would've also put a smile on the manager's face although the ongoing deficiencies from corners will cause him to want to pull his hair out as we concede from another corner. Three games in a row in the league where United have let in goals from corners.
Nonetheless, to pick up a win in his first derby will overshadow all else as not many would've seen this coming despite City's poor form.
There was no more his players could give as that work rate throughout the game was immense. We know that United struggle with outrunning opponents and while they may still need lots of improving, a performance and win like this will most certainly give us a lot of confidence moving forward.
What a way to win your first derby 😄.
Ratings
Onana - 6
De Ligt - 7
Maguire - 7
Martinez - 7
Mazraoui - 6.5
Bruno - 6.5
Ugarte - 6.5
Dalot - 5.5
Mount - what do we do with him?
Amad - 8 MOTM
Hojlund - 6
Mainoo - 6
Antony - 6
Yoro - 6
Zirkzee - 6
Ruben Amorim - 8
Final Thoughts
We deserved that. Us fans deserve that more than anyone. We've been through so much shit and are still in the shit but victories like these don't come along so often these days (unfortunately) so to get one after so long, we deserve it.
I'm so happy that to an extent, I've no idea what I'm saying or what to say. It's very rare nowadays that we are in such a position as usually it's the other way round.
I also feel that as United fans, we can be at each other quite a lot. We have this player FC thing where we want one player to do well and others not regardless of what happens to the team on the field.
But in this game, we saw more togetherness from these players, we saw more of a team and I don't think any fans are at each other tonight. That's what we need more of and it's up to the players to deliver this on the field.
But what an awesome day. What an awesome win but we now have to use this as a confidence booster going forward. We have to make the most of it. Build from it in the next game because football moves so fast that we cannot dwell on one game, as great as it was.
I think Amorim will be telling his players this as one bad game and we will be back to where we were before the derby.
But let's enjoy this for the next few days and bring on Spurs 💪.
Cmon YANITED 🔴⚪⚫!
Background Image: Amad and his teammates celebrate Man Utd's 2-1 win over rivals Man City | Image via Manchester United official X (@ManUtd)