There's a blue moon rising over Manchester, and it's starting to cast its shadow over Ruben Amorim's Manchester United reign.
His expensively assembled side of underperformers were once again played off the park, leaving him a powerless bystander as City fans broke into the Poznan with more than 20 minutes still to play.
It's a sight that for United fans is getting all too painfully familiar, Amorim scratching his head on the touchline while his team crumbles on the pitch. United's backline was breached and breached and breached as the City slickers took no mercy.
Phil Foden got the party started, powering his header into the far corner of the goal. It was then the Erling Haaland show, he netted twice and could have had more.
And so too could Tijjani Reijnders, who put his one-on-one chance just wide of Altay Bayindir's goal.
Ruben Amorim
Ruben Amorim was hapless in the defeat (Image: Manchester United via Getty Imag)
Amorim's set up was wrong from the start, Bruno Fernandes, who has been the sole star of United for so long, was deployed too far back in the midfield.
Fernandes was almost pushed back alongside Manuel Ugarte as the City side had the space of the Etihad to build out from the back and launch attacks at the crumbling defence.
It's too far for some United fans, who have started to demand his head on social media.
Erling Haaland
Erling Haaland netted twice in the 3-0 win (Image: SmartFrame/Pro Sports Images)
"There's a weird naivety about Man Utd allowing a coach to play out his 3-4-3 experiment when it clearly isn't working," one fan sighed. While a second said: "Amorim just unsuccessfully turned Bruno Fernandes, the best creator in the world, into a defensive midfielder..."
"I really don’t understand Amorim, this system is built for Bruno Fernandes to play 10, but he plays him as a pivot," a third fumed. As a fourth posted: "Sack Amorim now that it’s not too late, he’s no the guy to rescue this team..."
And another added: "It was too late to sack him in April, it was too late after the final, it’s very late now still. Ruben Amorim is a pathetic incompetent charlatan that has no place at Man Utd anymore!"
Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United looks dejected during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Etihad Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Manchester, England
Bruno Fernandes was played out of position (Image: Getty Images)
Where do the Red Devils go from here?
Amorim's side are rooted to the bottom half of the table, seemingly unable to haul themselves into the top ten.
They're out of the Carabao Cup and have no European football to look forward to later this week.
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Instead, they've won just one game in the Premier League and have a daunting fixture list on the horizon.
It's Chelsea next weekend for Amorim, then a trip to London to square off with Brentford.
A clash with Sunderland will see them into the international break before a huge fixture with bitter rivals Liverpool looms.