Yahoo News 'Closer to ending in failure' - national media's brutal Manchester United verdict amid Man City loss
Manchester United's miserable record against Manchester City continued on Sunday as they fell to a 3-1 defeat at the Etihad Stadium.
Marcus Rashford's sensational strike put the Reds ahead in the first-half. Erik ten Hag's men managed to keep City out for an hour until Phil Foden equalised. The England international then put the hosts ahead before Erling Haaland added a third.
Wins for Aston Villa, Tottenham, West Ham and Newcastle mean it was a weekend to forget for United. They are now nine points behind Aston Villa in fourth and six behind Tottenham.
READ MORE: Guardiola's gesture to Antony sums up United's dilemma in City defeat
Here, we have rounded-up how the national media and Manchester Evening News reported on the Manchester derby defeat.
'Defeat most anticipated'
Writing in The Independent, Richard Jolly said: "For United, a day that began well and contained the essence of an excellent display, nevertheless ended with the defeat most anticipated.
"The academy products traded wonderful goals, as Marcus Rashford and Foden rivalled each other with spectacular strikes. But Foden’s subsequent second moved City a step closer to a fourth successive title, something even Sir Alex Ferguson never accomplished, and rendered it likelier that United will not join their neighbours in the Champions League next season.
"Eleven points off fourth, they can rue other games more than this but their season is closer to ending in failure."
'City's superiority was demonstrated starkly'
Writing in The Telegraph, James Ducker said: "Erik ten Hag spoke before Sunday’s derby about his set-up causing “confusion” for Manchester City, and confusion was an apt word when it came to evaluating Manchester United’s performance at the Etihad.
"In one respect, United’s approach kept the contest vaguely competitive while Marcus Rashford’s outstanding goal brought a sense of jeopardy to City’s afternoon. In other respects - territorial, statistical and technical - City’s superiority was demonstrated starkly.
"This reflected pre-match expectations, and United were missing key players such as Rasmus Hojlund, Mason Mount, Luke Shaw and Lisandro Martinez. Ten Hag had to turn to a threadbare bench in the second half, although the hapless Antony and Sofyan Amrabat were signed on his watch. Rashford’s wondergoal also came in the eighth minute, conditioning an attack vs defence scenario which is important context when assessing the game’s data."
'Not what United should be about'
Writing in The Guardian, David Hytner said: "At least it was not another abject humiliation. That was the crumb of comfort from the Manchester United point of view. In four of the previous six derbies – and that did not include the FA Cup final at the end of last season, which Manchester City won 2-1 – United had been taken apart in grisly fashion. Their supporters even had the thrill of seeing Marcus Rashford blast them into an early lead with a furious long-range drive.
"It was still another defeat, another occasion when the gap to the top was mapped out in painful detail – as it was always likely to be. United’s ambition was limited to battling to stay compact and trying to nick something on the counterattack.
"It is plainly not what United should be about and Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the new minority owner, knows it.
"His timeframe for knocking City and Liverpool off their perch within three years will have to be revised on this evidence, and it was another one of his recent soundbites that resonated on Sunday – the one about the “complete misery and frustration” of being a United fan since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013."
'It's about dignity'
Writing in the Daily Mail, Ian Ladyman said: "For Manchester United and Erik ten Hag, the sobering reality is that this is how it is these days against the really good teams. It’s not about winning, it’s about dignity.
"Consider the admittedly rather fanciful scenario in which United had come to the Etihad and engaged in a shoot-out with Manchester City. Toe to toe. Punch and counter-punch. They would have been beaten and in all likelihood pretty heavily.
"So this was the only alternative open to Ten Hag and his modest bunch of players Sunday. Sit in. Dig in. Hope.
"This is how United played at Liverpool earlier in the season. That day at Anfield in December, they got a 0-0 draw on the back of 32 per cent of possession and six shots to Liverpool’s 34. Here, the numbers were similar but the ones that mattered were not. United lost and a 3-1 reverse was the very most they deserved.
"What this teaches us is that the chasm between United and teams such as City and Liverpool is enduringly vast and that is all that matters.
"United remain capable of riding a wave out at somewhere like Aston Villa and winning it at the death. They can grab a late one at Wolves to win in a thriller. But when it comes to the standards that matter to a club like United — the standards being set at the very top of the English game — they remain in the foothills of the mountain.
"They are miles away and this is the problem facing Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his Ineos investment vehicle as they try to repair the damage wrought by 10 years of mistakes in the wake of Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement."
'Rubbed United's noses in it'
Writing in the Manchester Eveing News, Samuel Luckhurst said: "Manchester City rubbed United's noses in it with three banners that greeted the players at kick-off: 'Treble winners', 'Champions of England' and 'Champions again ole ole'. City then eventually rubbed United's noses in it on the pitch
"This was not the routine Manchester derby win many envisaged. The United supporters in the south stand witnessed a spirited performance marked by one of the great derby goals and a team still playing for its manager.
"Yet they traipsed down the gangways to a rendition of 'Old Trafford is falling down'. City are on the up. The United end was more than half-empty at full-time.
"This derby fell almost exactly two years to the day since United were battered 4-1 at the Etihad. They ended that day one place and one point off fourth spot in the Premier League table. United are now 11 points off fourth.
"Erik ten Hag will know this is not the month for positives in defeat. United have lost 11 league games - one shy of their worst tally in the Premier League era in 2013-14 and 2021-22.
"The lack of squad depth was apparent, particularly with the exorbitant and execrable Antony, who lost the ball twice in his first two minutes. Sofyan Amrabat turned attack into defence for the final City goal. A smiling Pep Guardiola shook Antony's hand seconds before he emerged in the 75th minute. No wonder."
