Last few minutes, there was no stress. It was already a rout when the fourth goal was scored, but it didn’t matter since it was too late. As a result, whatever tension and worry there had been could have stayed. City supporters may instead relax and have fun in the dying minutes of a derby match. It wasn’t a delight that they shared with them. Manchester United’s demise was, of course, amusing to see as the team ran about in circles, their players’ heads dangling, and their supporters walked away in silence. But the Etihad Stadium became a bit bored of crowing as the minutes ticked past.
Instead, city’s supporters were carefree and joyful. Yaya Touré and his brother Kolo, who hasn’t played for the club in a while, were singled out for special attention. Poznan is a maneuver in which they turned their backs to the field, tying their arms around each other’s shoulders and then bouncing. After a journey to Poland for the Europa League a decade earlier, city brought it back, but it had lost its luster. It has a retro vibe to it, like a joke that’s been passed down from generation to generation.
Derbys are designed to be this way. They are intended to be tense and agitated, bursting with rage and bare-knuckle animosity. Some of it remains in the Manchester derby. After Jadon Sancho equalized for Manchester United midway through the first half, he celebrated in the eye-line of one supporter in particular, who met him with wrath. The fact that the fan was sporting a giant novelty sombrero only served to highlight the absurdity of the situation.
It’s hard to deny, at least for half of the city, that some of that rage has waned over the years, however. Defeating Manchester City, its formidable neighbor, is still a source of great joy for the Reds. However, the previous sense of urgency and desperation is gone. In the end, this is not a group with a mission in life. When it comes to this day, it’s no longer a thing to fear. Manchester City’s derby day is becoming more and more enjoyable.
As much attention they attract, as much baroque music and pulse-quickening montages they generate, most rivalries are hard-baked and unchangeable. Regardless of how the players and managers and the specific conditions under which teams meet, the core tale, the framework, stays the same. Goliath, in certain circumstances, is looking for David’s nosebleed. Just once, can Torino defeat Juventus? Is it possible for Borussia Dortmund to halt Bayern Munich’s ruthless pursuit of a second Bundesliga title, even for a week or so?
While this is the case in some derbies, in others it’s a battle of equals battling for dominance right away. Real Madrid’s games against Barcelona are generally a predictor of the Spanish championship race. In the North London Derby, Arsenal’s games against Tottenham are usually a battle to determine who can finish higher in the league and qualify for the Champions League.
That larger story seldom changes. Regardless of whether A.C. Milan is stronger or weaker than Inter Milan, the two clubs are still equals in heart. Whether it takes a month, a season, or even a few years, the pendulum will always swing back, therefore the character of the rivalry will never change.
The Manchester derby, on the other hand, has evolved in ways that can hardly be recognized. Before Abu Dhabi’s arrival at city and the influx of cash, this game was crucial to the club’s season. It was a day that was both eagerly awaited and feared. United’s nine-month slump may be made worthwhile if they win this game and hurt their own arrogance. Beating them just made the night seem longer.
The derby was the platform on which city attempted to throw off its deep-seated inferiority issue and show that it was ready to compete once its horizons had been broadened once again. It started off as nothing but pain for everyone involved. The anguish was amplified when Michael Owen scored in injury time at Old Trafford one year. Wayne Rooney’s comic-book overhead kick once again broke Manchester City’s hearts.
The spell came to an end after that. After a stunning, era-changing 6-1 triumph at Old Trafford in 2012, Manchester City went on to earn a nail-biting 1-0 victory at the Etihad Stadium, which eventually shifted the championship battle in their favor. Everything had flipped: City had the upper hand, and United was out to break its inflated ego, relishing the opportunity to derail a superpower.
However, it has now taken on yet another guise. On this game, city does not feel any dread that is based in any logic. The season is no longer decided by this one game. A more likely candidate is Liverpool’s trip to city in the middle of next month, or maybe the Champions League final. To city, this game has taken on the flavor of a small-town brawl.
As Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City has transformed itself into a modern-day powerhouse thanks to the financial strength of the club’s Gulf-based backers, the derby has become an inevitable conclusion. But it’s also because of Manchester United’s demise, the ideal antidote to the belief that money assures success, its dreadful and apparently unstoppable fall. As time goes on, the distance between these two teams widens. At this point, it’s hard to see how United can even begin to bridge the divide.
As city’s supporters sang the songs they used to sing when win was uncommon and the rage ran deep, United’s players looked to wander, bewildered, around the field, their spirit depleted and their dream destroyed. As a result, the poisons may have been flushed from the crowd by that. Tension could not possibly exist. There was no room for resentment or animosity in this world. When is the joy in a situation where there is such a large disparity between the two parties?
