Manchester City 0-1 Manchester United: 3 Things We Learned As Rashford’s Fairy-tale Continues

Manchester City 0-1 Manchester United: 3 Things We Learned From The Game

Manchester City had the chance to provide daylight between them and their neighbours Manchester United as they locked horns at the Etihad. United were knocked out of the Europa League by Liverpool in midweek while City were looking to get a stronghold on fourth place.

Although it was supposed to be a game for City to win, Manchester United scored first thanks to Marcus Rashford. Manchester City tried their level best to hit back but were thwarted by some great United defending and also some rather poor attacking play by the Citizens.

The win puts United just a point behind Manchester City and we look back at the game and list out the three most crucial things to come out from the clash.

1. Rashford is the real deal

The Fairy-tale continues. It was yet another promising display for the Manchester United youngster and he was the one who made the difference for the Red half of Manchester. The 18-year-old became the youngest scorer in the Manchester derby but more than that, he made life extremely difficult for the City defence.

Rashford might not be the biggest name in world football but he does remind people of the time when Freddy Macheda was the next big thing to come out from the Manchester United academy. Though that did not work out too well for the club and player, they will hope that Rashford’s performances are not a flash in the pan and he could lead the line for the next decade or so.

2. City slipping up

Ever since the announcement that Pep Guardiola will be taking over from Manuel Pellegrini at Manchester City next season, the Citizens have been downright awful. They were with just one win in their last five league fixtures and that has seen them slip down the Premier League table.

Manchester United and West Ham are just one point behind fourth-placed City, the best hopes the blue half of Manchester can have of making it into the Champions League next season could be winning the European competition.

3. United on the charge for a top four spot?

The win certainly lifts a bit of gloom over United’s season. They were knocked out of the Europa League in midweek and this win certainly gives them a great chance of making it into the top four this season.

City are falling like a stone and United do not have any European games to look into with just eight Premier League clashes remaining till the end of the season. Manchester United just need to keep grinding out the results, they have a good defence and under Rashford, they do have someone who is a hard worker at the tip of the attack, this could be the result which puts United on an amazing run till the end of the season.