Manchester City win 1-0 at Old Trafford despite Phil Foden's 25th-minute red card
Manchester City secured a 1-0 derby victory at Old Trafford on Sunday, playing over an hour with ten men after Phil Foden's early dismissal. Enzo Maresca's side showed intelligence and resilience to claim what Danny Murphy called a 'statement win' for the new manager. Erling Haaland scored the winner, though the refereeing body later admitted a judgement error.
- Competition: Premier League
- Venue: Old Trafford
- Result: Manchester United 0-1 Manchester City
- Key moment: Phil Foden sent off in the first 25 minutes
- Goal: Erling Haaland (winner); refereeing body admits judgement error over the goal
- Manager: Enzo Maresca (Manchester City), Michael Carrick (Manchester United)
What was said
"If you go to Old Trafford in a derby, go down to 10 men in the first 25 minutes and still come away with a 1-0 victory, it tells you a lot about your players."
"Sunday's result was a statement win for Manchester City's new manager Enzo Maresca, who got his tactics spot on, but his team's performance will have showed him exactly what they are about."
"I am talking about the mentality, discipline, organisation and energy you need in order to get a result when things go wrong for you like that in a game."
"They were smart too, and that experience and ability not to panic goes a long way in football in situations like the one City faced following Phil Foden's early red card."
"City are used to always having most of the ball but they were fine without it against United. That is down to leadership and communication - not just from the manager, but from the players on the field."
"Maresca deserves plenty of credit for his decisions too, but he must be thinking he is a lucky man for having the group of players he does, because their intelligence and resilience was key."
"As I said on Match of the Day, if anyone is doubting the competitiveness of City this season, just watch that game."
"When it was 11 v 11, I thought United were the better team."
"They pinned City back and were really bright going forward. Marcus Rashford, especially, was really positive and it felt like Michael Carrick's side were in the ascendancy."
"The sending-off, which was the right decision by the way, kind of stopped United's momentum a little bit and also basically told City how they were going to have to play - they were going to have to defend for most of the game."
"It is not what they are used to, but when you've got really experienced international players who are comfortable and calm, they don't really mind having to adapt."
"They actually seemed to enjoy the challenge, and straight away they were well-organised and very disciplined."
"United did not really create too much in the second part of the first half, other than a Rashford free-kick that hit the post, but I was thinking they would make a few tweaks at half-time and come out and really go after City. That didn't happen though."
"United hit the post again in the second half, with Kobbie Mainoo's shot from distance, but they did not really create a clear-cut chance until Gianluigi Donnarumma saved from Bryan Mbeumo right at the end of the game."
"Other than that, their decision-making in the final third wasn't great. They were shooting from silly angles or, when they got in some good wide areas and put the ball in, there were not enough numbers in the box."
"United could also have changed their team around and brought on Benjamin Sesko earlier than they did, while I thought Rashford should have stayed on instead of Matheus Cunha because he was more of a threat."
"But whatever United did try, City managed the game brilliantly."
"Even at the time, I thought their winning goal really shouldn't have stood, because Enzo Fernandez impacts play and should have been ruled offside, but their defensive display was outstanding, and not just from their back four and central midfielders."
"City were also superb further up the field. Antoine Semenyo and Erling Haaland were keeping the ball when it was played up to them, as well as winning free-kicks or beating people."
"When he came on for Rayan Cherki, Iliman Ndiaye again did all of that brilliantly. He gave them a different dimension, and was a big reason they won the game."
"That substitution was a clever one by Maresca and brave too, because while Ndiaye is better than Cherki defensively, he is also a ball-carrier who travels with the ball better too."
"I remember Maresca making a couple of negative substitutions this time last year when his Chelsea side went down to 10 men early on at Old Trafford. They ended up losing the game and he got a bit of criticism for it, but this time he went with Ndiaye, and it worked a treat."
"He gave them an outlet and made some great runs - he was part of everything they did positively from an attacking point of view and was even involved in the goal - but also did his share of defending, and winning the ball back."
"As the game went on, it looked like United were the ones who looked tired despite having the extra man for so long."
"Maybe that was down to them playing on Thursday night, while City had their Champions League game on Tuesday, but it was not just energy that United were lacking."
"They simply did not have the know-how to cause City problems. Let's not forget Donnarumma's late save because it was a brilliant stop, but Maresca's men were comfortable most of the time."
Danny Murphy's assessment highlights how City's experienced international players adapted to a defensive game plan, with Maresca's substitution of Ndiaye for Cherki proving decisive. The pundit's praise for City's intelligence and resilience underlines the scale of the result, while his criticism of United's final-third decision-making points to deeper issues for Michael Carrick's side.
The numbers
- Red card: Phil Foden (Manchester City) – first 25 minutes
- Goals: Erling Haaland (Manchester City) – 1
- Shots off woodwork: Marcus Rashford free-kick (first half), Kobbie Mainoo shot from distance (second half) – both hit the post for Manchester United
- Late save: Gianluigi Donnarumma denied Bryan Mbeumo right at the end
- Substitutions: Iliman Ndiaye replaced Rayan Cherki; Benjamin Sesko came on for Manchester United; Matheus Cunha replaced Marcus Rashford
Analysis: How Maresca's tactical switch won the derby
When Phil Foden was sent off in the first 25 minutes, Manchester City faced a scenario they rarely encounter: defending for the majority of a Premier League away game. Danny Murphy noted that United were the better side at 11 v 11, with Marcus Rashford particularly positive. The red card, correctly given, halted United's momentum and forced City into a low-block approach. Maresca's men embraced the challenge, demonstrating the organisation and discipline Murphy praised. The key was the half-time substitution of Rayan Cherki for Iliman Ndiaye. Ndiaye offered a defensive upgrade and a superior ball-carrying outlet, helping City relieve pressure and contributing to the winning goal. It was a brave call from Maresca, especially given his negative substitutions in a similar situation with Chelsea at Old Trafford last season. This time, the decision paid off, with Ndiaye involved in everything positive City did going forward.
Up front, Erling Haaland and Antoine Semenyo held the ball up effectively, winning free-kicks and allowing City to push up the pitch. The winning goal, scored by Haaland, was controversial: Murphy believed Enzo Fernandez impacted play from an offside position. The refereeing body later admitted a judgement error. However, City's defensive display, marshalled by Gianluigi Donnarumma, was outstanding. United's final-third decision-making was poor, with shots from silly angles and insufficient numbers in the box. Carrick's side hit the post twice, through Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo, but Donnarumma's late save from Bryan Mbeumo preserved the clean sheet. United looked tired despite their man advantage, perhaps due to playing Thursday, while City had their Champions League game on Tuesday.
This result sends a clear message about City's competitiveness this season. Maresca's tactical flexibility and the squad's resilience suggest they can grind out results even when not at their best. For United, the inability to break down ten men raises questions about their attacking cohesion and Carrick's in-game management. Substitutions like bringing on Benjamin Sesko late and replacing Rashford with Matheus Cunha did not yield the desired impact. Murphy argued Rashford should have stayed on as he was more of a threat. City, meanwhile, will take huge confidence from winning at Old Trafford with ten men, a feat that underscores their title credentials.
Talking points
- Should Enzo Fernandez's presence have ruled out Haaland's winner? Murphy thinks so, and the refereeing body has admitted a judgement error, but City fans will argue the goal stood fair.
- Did Michael Carrick get his substitutions wrong? Bringing on Sesko late and taking off Rashford for Cunha failed to inspire a comeback, leaving United impotent against ten men.
- Is Enzo Maresca already proving his tactical nous? His brave half-time switch to Ndiaye contrasts with his negative changes at Old Trafford last season with Chelsea.
- Can United recover from this? They had the better of the 11 v 11 but lacked a cutting edge, and now face pressure to respond in their next fixtures.
What happens next
Manchester City will look to build on this statement win as they continue their Premier League campaign, with the confidence that they can win ugly. Manchester United must regroup quickly; Carrick will need to address his side's final-third inefficiency before their next match. The refereeing body's admission over Haaland's goal may also prompt further debate about VAR, but the result stands. City's next fixture will test whether they can maintain this resilience, while United face the challenge of lifting morale after a derby defeat.
Frequently asked questions
What was the score of Manchester United vs Manchester City?
Manchester City won 1-0 at Old Trafford, with Erling Haaland scoring the only goal.
Why was Phil Foden sent off?
Phil Foden received a red card in the first 25 minutes of the match; Danny Murphy stated the sending-off was the right decision.
Who scored the winning goal in the Manchester derby?
Erling Haaland scored the winner, though the refereeing body later admitted a judgement error as Enzo Fernandez should have been ruled offside.
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