Manchester Nov 6 (BUS): It took just seven minutes into the Manchester derby for you to have no doubts about United’s precarious condition, according to the Associated Press.
When Eric Bailly clumsily intercepted Joao Cancelo’s cross to turn the ball into his own net, it was the start of another agonizing Old Trafford clash with a now superior opponent.
The only surprise from Saturday’s derby was United escaping a 2-0 loss to Manchester City after Bernardo Silva beat goalkeeper David de Gea in his near post in stoppage time.
Humiliation was averted, two weeks after Liverpool’s 5-0 defeat here, but it was another confrontation to reinforce how far United have fallen behind the elite in the Premier League.
City and United boast the world’s most expensive soccer teams – each amassed more than $1 billion – but that won’t be evident given the rain in northern England.
On paper, six points now separate champions City in second place from United in fifth. The gap in quality, tactics and style seems even larger, as City effortlessly head for victory.
It wasn’t Pep Guardiola’s name. City fans were singing at Old Trafford. They were mercilessly mocking Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Solskjaer limps in action, winning just one of six league games. The only success came last Saturday against Tottenham, who moved quickly to decide a managerial change was required.
With the dismissal of Nuno Espirito Santo and the signing of Antonio Conte, the north London club have selected a potential replacement for Solskjaer.
The Norwegian couldn’t count on saving Cristiano Ronaldo again, as their duo saved their Champions League draw in Atlanta on Tuesday.
Instead, Ronaldo cut a frustrating figure as the lack of sharpness and pressure left him isolated up front. Only once did he come close to scoring what would have been an equalizer in the 26th minute, with Ronaldo’s first shot by Ederson.
It rattled the crowd with the kind of roar that was not heard again until the rarely used Donny van der Beek was brought in in the second half.
Despite this, Boos was once again the soundtrack to the local audience at Old Trafford.
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