Man United left looking back in anger after derby defeat
For Noel Gallagher, Old Trafford was a place to celebrate on Sunday. For Manchester United fans, though, it was another afternoon to look back in anger.
The Oasis frontman watched from the Manchester City end as his boyhood club beat United 1-0 in the derby, joining the travelling supporters in performing the Poznan after the final whistle. For Sir Jim Ratcliffe, watching from the directors' box, the scene could hardly have been further from the vision he had when he agreed in December 2023 to spend £1.25 billion for a minority stake in United.
The intention was to restore one of English football's biggest clubs to its former glories. Nearly three years on, United are still searching for the green shoots of that recovery.
The 199th Manchester derby offered an uncomfortable snapshot of their current predicament. United had almost 70 minutes to find a way past a City side reduced to 10 men, yet they struggled to create enough to turn their numerical advantage into a result.
Two efforts did hit the crossbar, Marcus Rashford's free-kick and Kobbie Mainoo's late attempt, but those moments masked an otherwise blunt attacking display. United generated just 0.04 expected goals on target (xGOT) between the seventh and 95th minutes, underlining how little they troubled Gianluigi Donnarumma and the Manchester City defence.
Their clearest opening came in stoppage time, when Bruno Fernandes slipped Bryan Mbeumo into the box, only for Donnarumma to make the save.
Erling Haaland's controversial 60th-minute winner was decisive, but the deeper concern was what happened around it.
The goal should not have stood, with Pro Ref acknowledging the offside error, but there was also a familiar defensive failing in the build-up. Patrick Dorgu followed the ball across the pitch after a miscued header, ending up on the opposite side and leaving Lisandro Martinez facing a two-against-one at the back post. Haaland was able to exploit the space.
Even had the goal been ruled out, however, the larger question would have remained: why could United not break down a 10-man City side for almost 70 minutes?
Their passing lacked the speed and precision required to open up a deep defence, while their attacking movement became increasingly static as City dropped back. United had possession and a numerical advantage, but struggled to turn either into sustained pressure or clear chances.
The contrast in the two squads only made that more striking.
Joshua Zirkzee, a player United had been trying to sell during the summer, was brought on with seven minutes remaining. His most notable contribution was an overhit cross.
City, meanwhile, had Iliman Ndiaye, a £65 million summer signing, who had already made a decisive contribution before the final whistle. Ndiaye won possession after Dorgu's miscued header failed to reach Harry Maguire, starting the move that led to Haaland's winner.
Ndiaye may not maintain that level throughout the season, just as Zirkzee can still have a positive influence at United. But the wider point is difficult to ignore: City have been able to strengthen their squad with targeted additions, while United's work in the transfer window left Michael Carrick with fewer solutions.
The midfield offered another telling contrast. City's pairing of Elliot Anderson and Enzo Fernandez cost a combined £241 million, while United's midfield pivot was assembled for £35 million, the value of Youri Tielemans' release clause, alongside academy graduate Mainoo.
The midfield offered another telling contrast. City's pairing of Elliot Anderson and Enzo Fernandez cost a combined £241 million, while United's midfield pivot was assembled for £35 million, the value of Youri Tielemans' release clause, alongside academy graduate Mainoo.
Yet Mainoo arguably had the better of Anderson in several moments, including the tackle that helped set up Rashford's effort against the side-netting. The academy graduate's performance also underlined the curious nature of United's recent recruitment decisions, given that the club were previously open to offers for him at a fraction of the value attached to City's midfielders.
Sunday's derby therefore highlighted more than a difference in spending. It exposed a difference in squad depth, recruitment strategy and the number of solutions available when a game takes an unexpected turn.
United spent £148 million during the summer, yet still appeared short of answers when City went down to 10 men.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. And the problems extend well beyond the pitch.
Before the derby even began, United supporters had made their feelings clear. Thousands protested outside Old Trafford, while inside the stadium The Red Army displayed a banner reading: "The way you treat us is a disgrace."
Before the derby even began, United supporters had made their feelings clear. Thousands protested outside Old Trafford, while inside the stadium The Red Army displayed a banner reading: "The way you treat us is a disgrace."
The protests were aimed at the club's ownership and its treatment of match-going supporters, with anger intensified by United's investigation into ticket sharing. The club has said 685 fan accounts were banned, while a further 464 were sanctioned or warned.
The relationship between supporters and the ownership has been deteriorating against a backdrop of severe financial pressure. United's latest accounts showed an overall debt of £1.3 billion, including outstanding transfer fees. The club has also refinanced £314 million of bonds at a higher interest rate and borrowed a further £92.4 million.
A distant target
For Ratcliffe, the timing could hardly be more uncomfortable.
When chief executive Omar Berrada spoke to staff in September 2024, the stated ambition was for United to win the Premier League title in 2028.
That target now looks increasingly distant.
United have four points from their opening four league games, matching their worst start to a Premier League season since 1992-93. It is also exactly the same points tally they had after four games last season under Ruben Amorim.
United have four points from their opening four league games, matching their worst start to a Premier League season since 1992-93. It is also exactly the same points tally they had after four games last season under Ruben Amorim.
Michael Carrick deserves credit for the turnaround that followed his arrival midway through last season, when he helped United secure a third-place finish and Champions League qualification.
But Sunday showed the limits of how far that improvement can carry them without a deeper transformation.
"We haven't got as many points as we would have liked at this point, for sure," Carrick said afterwards. "There's no getting away from that."
There is also no getting away from the larger question facing United.
They have changed managers, restructured their football operation and spent heavily on players. Yet against 10-man City, with Old Trafford demanding answers, they still looked like a team short of both solutions and certainty.
For Noel Gallagher and the blue half of Manchester, the derby was another reason to sing. For the red half, it was another reminder that the road back to the top remains considerably longer than the club hoped.
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