United beats City in Premier League: Old Trafford celebrates again – Sport

On the way to the exit of the stadium, Bruno Fernandes pushed his team-mate Marcus Rashford forward with both hands – and thus towards the fans of Manchester United Football Club. Behind Rashford, who somewhat involuntarily complied with the invitation to take center stage alone, Fernandes waved his arms at the crowd for a scene of applause. Again and again he pointed to his teammates. Just as you know it from a play, at the end of which the main actor is often showered with ovations. You could hardly avoid this association on Saturday: Because the home stadium of Manchester United is popularly called “Theatre of Dreams”.

In this specific case, Rashford had neither played himself nor anyone else in the 189th Manchester derby, his winning goal to make it 2-1 for United against City in the 82nd minute of the game was absolutely genuine in every respect. As did the associated entries in the club’s chronicles: Rashford, 25, became the first player since Cristiano Ronaldo in April 2008 to score in seven consecutive competitive games for United. In addition, the homegrown equalized the remarkable record of a certain Dennis Viollet. The club legend scored in nine straight competitive games 64 years ago at home in Old Trafford.

Rashford’s joy knew almost no bounds after his goal because he was more or less symbolic of the end of his creative crisis last season – and possibly also of the end of his club’s bottom. After his missed penalty for England in the lost penalty shootout of the 2021 European Championship final, Rashford faced nasty hostilities. They inevitably put a strain on his performances, which also caused his club to suffer massively in the previous season.

Together, both Rashford and Manchester United have gradually recovered under Erik ten Hag, who has been in office since the summer. The first home win over the archrival in almost three years has now put it on paper. With their ninth competitive win in a row, United moved up to a point behind City in the Premier League. Neighbors are leading the pack behind league leaders Arsenal, who are away to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

Marcus Rashford scores United’s second goal.

(Photo: PHIL NOBLE/REUTERS)

For City, which is used to success, the defeat is the next setback after the club surprisingly lost the League Cup quarter-finals this week. The frustration of coach Pep Guardiola’s team erupted this time in particular on the referee. Stuart Attwell validated United’s equalizer from Fernandes in the 78th minute, despite Rashford being offside a through ball intended for him and briefly walking just off the ball – until realizing the approaching Fernandes was in a better position and above all in a position that conforms to the rules. The International Football Association rule book for this season states that a player is only considered offside if he either touches the ball or interferes with opponents in such a situation. Neither was the case in this situation, which is why it was justifiable to give the goal.

However, even ten Hag admitted he would “not be happy” to concede such a goal. He could understand “the other side” because it was a “confusing moment” for the defense. City coach Pep Guardiola said Rashford was “offside” because he “irritated our goalkeeper and our defenders” – which is why he didn’t think the goal should have counted. Despite the disputed game scene, the question arose as to why City didn’t retreat much further in the final phase after Jack Grealish’s wonderful opening goal (1:0/60). Because United’s best advances in the game were always preceded by deep passes, which Rashford in particular chased with his speed. The winning goal also followed this principle, and again City almost naively allowed themselves to be countered.

Fernandes says United are now a ‘real team’

United’s comeback, on the other hand, underlines the course of the season so far. Just three months ago, the English record champions had to endure a hopeless 3:6 against City in the first half of the season. Since then, the club has recovered amazingly, losing just one in 19 competitive games. In a double interview on the pitch with the two United goalscorers on the “BT Sport” channel, Fernandes enthused to the cheers of the spectators that they are now a “real team” that work “hard” for each other. In the past, he admitted, this wasn’t always the case because too often “everybody looked after themselves”. The game was therefore quite a “little special”, added Rashford and announced for the rest of the season: “Everything is possible.”

Then they both headed for the exit – and Marcus Rashford, at the request of Bruno Fernandes, received the kind of applause from the fans that was like a big theatrical performance.

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