Premier League
Like Mourinho and David Moyes, Solskjaer brought down by ‘noisy neighbours’ Man City
Curious, but it is true. Man City pushed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer towards the Manchester United exit door, just like they did with Jose Mourinho and David Moyes
Alas, Ole is no longer at the wheel. There’ll be a caretaker driver, then an interim drive and then a full-time driver.
But before you let the inner workings of Manchester United baffle you too much, bask in the knowledge that Manchester City have once again played a key part in the downfall of one of Sir Alex Ferguson’s successors.
Sure, the Blues didn’t land the final blow, having shown the sort of restraint at Old Trafford two weeks ago that escaped Watford entirely on Saturday, when Claudio Ranieri’s team streamed giddily forward to score twice in injury time and romp to a 4-1 win over the beleaguered Reds.
Nevertheless, once you suffer a particularly chastening derby day defeat, things are only ever heading one way – as the examples below demonstrate.
March 25, 2014: Manchester United 0-3 Manchester City
Any notion of the United of David Moyes playing like Fergie’s boys had long since left the building by the time title-chasing City made the short trip across town for a re-arranged midweek derby.
In a sequence that was echoed in the final days of Solskjaer, United had been resoundingly beaten 3-0 by Liverpool on home turf nine days earlier and there was little doubt over the outcome after Manuel Pellegrini’s side led inside the first minute through Edin Dzeko.
The Bosnian striker volleyed a second after half-time and Yaya Toure lashed in a late third to ensure the scoreline at least partly reflected City’s total dominance.
What happened next
There were two last defiant flickers of life, as United racked up four-goal wins against Aston Villa and Newcastle United in their next two league fixtures.
But, not for the last time, Pep Guardiola proved to be a nuisance as his Bayern Munich dumped the Reds out of the Champions League. By the time United lost at Moyes’ former club Everton on April 20, they had no mathematical chance of returning to Europe’s top competition.
The reality of lost revenue brought out a seldom seen ruthless streak in the Glazer regime and Moyes was gone within a month of his derby humbling.
November 11, 2018: Manchester City 3-1 Manchester United
Jose Mourinho might have classed United’s second-place finish in 2017-18 among his finest coaching achievements but mere simpletons everywhere just noticed City had put together a record 100-point haul, broken a stack of records and finished 19 points clear.
There was already a nine-point gap by the time the Reds headed to the Etihad Stadium in November 2018 and a rampant start from City sought to banish them from the title picture.
David Silva’s 12th-minute opener was all Guardiola’s side had to show for a dominant opening 45 minutes, but Sergio Aguero crashed a trademark finish high past David de Gea to give them breathing space.
Anthony Martial pulled one back from the penalty spot against the run of play, but Ilkay Gundogan crowned a dazzling 44-pass move to put a bedraggled United out of their misery.
What happened next
Mourinho lasted a little longer than Moyes did after his last derby loss, but it was a slow and painful denouement.
A 0-0 draw at home to Crystal Palace followed the November international break and Young Boys were set to leave Old Trafford with the same scoreline until a last-gasp Marouane Fellaini winner.
That was Mourinho’s penultimate United win, as draws with Southampton and Arsenal followed. Valencia then beat them in the Champions League and Liverpool ransacked them 3-1 at Anfield to end Jose’s lengthy residence at the Lowry Hotel.
November 6, 2021: Manchester United 0-2 Manchester City
Although the scoreline was a touch more moderate, City’s win to leave Solskjaer on the brink had plenty in common with the wounds they inflicted upon Moyes and Mourinho.
In terms of being completely and comprehensively outplayed on home turf, it somehow outstripped the 2014 game. If Phil Foden had scored instead of clipping the outside of the post late on, City’s display would have had the definitive final flourish Toure supplied.
Bernardo Silva’s goal concluded a 27-pass move where every player touched the ball, in an echo of Gundogan’s effort. To borrow the famous commentary line from the 6-1, this was United not just beaten… humiliated.
What happened next
Unless you spent the weekend under a rock, you know all about what went on at Vicarage Road – slapstick defending, a Harry Maguire red card and all the other good stuff.
But perhaps most significant is what happened in the two weeks beforehand. Or, more accurately, what didn’t as United left Solkajaer in situ despite City putting the writing on the wall as emphatically as they did on everyone’s favourite Carlos Tevez poster.
Premier League
Manchester United tighten hold on third in the Premier League with win over Aston Villa
Manchester United’s Matheus Cunha buried a second‑half strike off a pinpoint through ball from Bruno Fernandes for a club-record 16th Premier League assist in a season to lift the hosts to a 3-1 victory over Aston Villa on Sunday.
Casemiro and substitute Benjamin Sesko scored United’s other goals in a result that tightened United’s grip on third place in the standings on 54 points after 30 games, while fourth-placed Villa have 51 points.
United, who were playing their first game in 11 days, were keen for a victory after interim boss Michael Carrick’s seven-game unbeaten run ended in a 2-1 loss to 10-man Newcastle United on March 4.
With 22 points from a possible 27 under Carrick’s leadership, Sunday’s win will invariably lead to more questions about his chances of becoming United’s permanent manager.
“It was a slightly different game today going into it being so close in the league and making the small jump we could if we won, off the back of a defeat,” Carrick said. “It was a small test and we haven’t really had that.
“The boys dealt with it really well, had a really good week and applied themselves well. Everything is so so encouraging. We’ve got a lot to play for.”
The game looked headed for a draw before Cunha scored from the left side of the box in the 71st minute, with Fernandes recording his 100th assist for the club across all competitions.
With eight games left, Fernandes is also four shy of matching the Premier League record for assists in one season of 20 held by Thierry Henry (2002-03) and Kevin de Bruyne (2019-20).
“He’s had so many big moments, to score a goal, to make a pass,” Carrick said of Fernandes. “Training or games, he’s always there. Really good with the corner. The pass to Matheus was fantastic to cap off a good performance all around.”
Sesko put the game out of reach 10 minutes later with a blistering shot from the centre of the box.
Casemiro put United ahead in the 53rd minute with a glancing header from a Fernandes corner.
Ross Barkley levelled in the 64th with a shot from the middle of the area. After a lengthy VAR check to determine whether the ball glanced off an offside Amadou Onana, the goal stood.
A better second half salvaged a decent game after a dreary first 45 minutes plagued by errant passes and slipping players.
United did have some decent first-half chances including a header from Amad Diallo that goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez stretched backwards to keep out of the net. Diogo Dalot had a terrific chance inside the box that he launched over the bar.
Leny Yoro’s block spoiled one of Villa’s best chances and led to a long-range shot from Fernandes at the other end that he sent just wide of the post.
Villa have not won a league game since February 11, and an animated manager Unai Emery spent much of the afternoon stomping his feet and waving his arms in frustration.
“How we are progressing after we did fantastic months in October, November, December, the last two months we are struggling,” Emery said. “It’s Manchester United here at home, and they are now in good moment. And of course, they played a very intelligent match.
“I think we can get better. The result at the end was a bad result for us. We must accept it and try to analyse now to get better for the next challenge.”
-Reuters
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England and Manchester United defender Harry Maguire has been handed a 15-month suspended prison sentence by a Greek court over a 2020 incident in Mykonos, Sky Sports reported on Wednesday.
In 2020, Maguire was found guilty of repeated bodily harm, attempted bribery and violence against public employees after his arrest in a brawl in which two police officers were assaulted.
Maguire, who was detained for two days following the incident and denied any wrongdoing, was handed a suspended prison sentence of 21 months and 10 days but was granted a full retrial after appealing against Greek court convictions on multiple charges.
In accordance with the Greek judicial process, the filing nullified Maguire’s conviction before a full retrial in a more senior court. His retrial was postponed many times.
Maguire faced allegations of non-serious assault, resisting arrest and attempted bribery. The 32-year-old was convicted on all three counts but will face no prison time. His legal team will appeal against the guilty verdict, Sky Sports reported.
Maguire’s brother Joe and friend Christopher Sharman were also found guilty of offences related to the incident and received suspended prison sentences in 2020. They also denied any wrongdoing.
-Reuters
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Arsenal maintained control of the Premier League title race as they chiselled out a nervy 2-1 win over London rivals Chelsea to open up a five-point lead at the top of the table on Sunday.
Jurrien Timber’s 66th-minute header from a Declan Rice corner ensured Arsenal took three precious points, but it was a nervy afternoon in north London.
Mikel Arteta’s side moved to 64 points from 29 games, with Manchester City, who have played a game fewer, on 59.
Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber celebrates scoring their second goal with Gabriel Magalhaes REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Defender William Saliba had given Arsenal the lead in the 21st minute from a trademark corner routine.
But it had looked as though an own goal by Piero Hincapie just before halftime would prove costly for the hosts until Timber came to their rescue.
Chelsea, whose six-match unbeaten league sequence under new manager Liam Rosenior was halted, ended the match with 10 men after Pedro Neto was sent off for a second yellow card.
-Reuters
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