Manchester is blue

Manchester City beat United 0-1 at Old Trafford after playing more than 65 minutes with ten men. The scoreline looks flat. The evening was anything but.

“Manchester City have somehow managed to sneak away from Old Trafford with all three points despite playing with 10 men.”

Foden kicks out

Phil Foden was shown a straight red in the first half for kicking out at Bruno Fernandes. Michael Oliver sent him off and City were down to ten before the break.

Fernandes got away with one

Fernandes kicked the City man first, and plenty thought he deserved the same punishment. Roy Keane said the United captain should have walked too.

“Many would tell you that Bruno Fernandes was lucky to avoid the same punishment as Foden.”

City changed the plan

Maresca told his side to sit lower, guard the ball and counter. Haaland said the squad dropped its usual possession game and waited for one moment.

“We had to lay low, which is not ideal. We like to keep the ball, we like to try to score goals.”

The half-time masterstroke

Maresca pulled Rayan Cherki at the break and sent on Iliman Ndiaye. The swap reshaped the second half and arguably decided the match.

Ndiaye led the press

Ndiaye won nine duels, drew five fouls and completed three take-ons, the most on the pitch in all three. His defensive work stood out more than his attacking.

“He is known for his incredible attacking play, but it was his defensive work that he deserves credit for tonight.”

Anderson ran the midfield

Elliot Anderson took 76 touches, completed 45 of 52 passes, won seven duels and made seven line-breaking passes. He carried the extra load once Foden went.

“The man was everywhere in that game.”

Money well spent

Anderson had a rough City debut in the Community Shield against Arsenal. Weeks later the England international looks like the signing of the window.

“It seems like money well spent by City.”

Haaland breaks the deadlock

The striker stayed patient all afternoon and finished when the one chance came. It was flagged offside on the pitch, then sent to VAR.

“I just had to be there, to try to wait for a chance, and if there's a chance, I had to be ready to execute.”

VAR overturns the flag

The Premier League said Haaland was onside, and that Enzo Fernandez, though offside, did not play the ball. The goal stood.

“The VAR also deemed that while in an offside position, Fernandez didn't play the ball.”

Martinez was dragged away

Lisandro Martinez said he went to mark Fernandez because the City man was right in front of him, which left Haaland unmarked behind.

“He was there. I went to him because he was in front of me. That's why Haaland was free at the back.”

Unacceptable, says Martinez

United's defender pointed to the pre-season briefings where officials explain the laws to players, then make calls like this one.

“We have to go home with this injustice.”

Carrick is confused

United's manager called the explanation staggering and said his worry is not the points but what the ruling means for how the game is read.

“If that's the interpretation of not interfering in the game now, that's really worrying for me.”

Neville predicts an apology

The former United captain said Fernandez was clearly trying to play the ball and putting Martinez off, and that the referees' body would admit the error.

“There is no doubt that Enzo is attempting to play the ball and putting Lisandro Martinez off.”

The refs admit the mistake

The referees' body later conceded that allowing the goal was wrong. The result, of course, stands.

Haaland took it personally

The striker told Oliver he was offended by the offside call, then looked to the bench, got a thumbs up and started celebrating before the decision landed.

“I normally don't go offside, so I told Michael Oliver I took it a bit personally.”

Nine derby goals

Haaland is now the outright top scorer in Premier League Manchester derbies with nine, passing Sergio Aguero and Wayne Rooney on eight.

Sharper with ten

Haaland argued the sending off improved City, forcing a directness they should use with a full eleven.

“I think we even became sharper with 10 men. That's how we have to play all the time, even with 11 men.”

United fell into the trap

With a man advantage for most of the game, United were poor and created little. Ian Ladyman wrote that only one team played smart football, and it was not the home side.

“Manchester United were incredibly poor despite having the man advantage.”

Controversial, deserved

The winner should not have counted. City still earned the three points with courage, and the celebrations at full time said as much.

“A controversial winner, but a well-deserved win.”