From recent disappointments to joy and rejuvenation. With Sir Alex Ferguson gleaming down, the Theatre of Dreams’ name was again realised.
It was surprising that the scoreline wasn’t close to double digits, with the crossbar being hit along with the post, and Gianluigi Donnarumma saving the City side from further embarrassment.
United took the game by the scruff of the neck and held on tight until the final whistle.
With the vocal captain Bruno Fernandes spearheading a classic United counterattack from a City corner. The Portuguese international blazed forward with Amad Diallo and Mbuemo ahead. Fernandes found Mbuemo, who, on his return from AFCON, slotted the ball past Donnarumma.
With the crowd screaming and with the past behind them, United pressed firmly on the gas pedal and struck again to double the lead with a cross from the substitute Matheus Cunha to Dorgu, allowing the Dane to score his second goal of the season.
At the time of writing, United sit in fourth place on the table, and the fans can revel in the feeling of satisfaction. With an away game against Arsenal on the horizon, United’s charge for European football continues.
Now onto the player ratings.
Senne Lammens - 7
Solid. Manchester City only had a single shot on target, but Lammens stayed composed to deal with in-swinging corners and the ball rebounding near the goal mouth.
Luke Shaw - 7.2
Great energy from Shaw. Up and down the wing, being a nuisance when necessary and breaking up play.
Lisandro Maritnez - 7.5
The usual spark plug at the back. Disrupting the big opposition players, playing brilliant balls in behind onto suspecting runners. Martinez linked up with Harry Maguire in a back four. His flexibility to cooperate with whoever is next to him is very telling of his ability and character. His continued health will turn into wealth for United.
Harry Maguire - 7.5
In games of the past, seeing Maguire in a back four spelt disaster. But under Amorim, Maguire found form in the back five. That seems to have carried over under the tutelage of Michael Carrick. After nearly scoring in the first 10 minutes, Maguire was composed and willing to fill any role required. Defending, short passes and carrying the ball forward.
Diogo Dalot - 7.1
Skilled as he is and crafty enough to escape with only a yellow card, Dalot’s performance was steady. A few missed passes but great attacking runs to overload the City defence and allow the ball to be placed in better places.
Casemiro - 7.5
Great performance against City, cleaning up the rubbish when the ball was played into the players' feet and being open and skilled to play his first time passes to entice City players to commit and play out from the press. A moment of madness did occur when he was one-on-one with the keeper after battling a defender. A momentary lack of judgment resulted in his name being left off the score sheet. Rather than trying to chip the goalkeeper, a committed blast of the ball in the back of the net would have sufficed.
Kobbie Mainoo - 7.4
The magic man himself filled a great space in the United midfield. His play goes under the radar, but when he flashes, it brightens the stadium and the fans. Intricate play, small tackles that have big impacts.
Amad Diallo - 7.6
Darting runs, making himself available for the pass, and some brilliant pressing. Hitting the post at the end was the unfortunate cherry on top that capped off a great derby day performance.
Bruno Fernandes - 8.5
A skipper who leads from the front. Adapting well to Carrick’s tactics, it was great to see Bruno breathe again, watching him direct players, quarrel with the referees and bag an assist: all things that are associated with Bruno Fernandes. Finding pockets of space, involving himself in the link-up plays, and finding the right players who can do damage.
Patrick Dorgu - 8.5
Dorgu is truly in his renaissance era. A true rebirth for the young Danish man. He showed his ability to switch the ball to the opposite side of the pitch, provide further coverage defensively, and then appear in the box to capitalise on a lazy defensive line to bag himself a goal.
Bryan Mbuemo - 8
A bit lackadaisical in the first half but turned up in the second. Grabbed the opening goal with a great finish past a keeper who was saving just about everything thrown at him. Mbuemo, fresh from his AFCON exit, stepped up and played hard.
Substitutes:
Matheus Cunha - 7.8
Impactful off the bench. Truly accredited to Carrick’s tactical know-how. Cunha took up from where Mbuemo left off, crossing the ball into the pocket of space for Dorgu to run on to. A great bench option to bring pace, energy and ideas.
Mason Mount- N/A
Manuel Ugarte- N/A
Ayden Heaven- N/A