Manchester United was re-educated in the football game during the Premiership league match today at the Etihad Stadium.
There were two hat-tricks in this game, with Phil Folden scoring at the 8th, 44th and 72nd Minutes, while Halland scored at the 34th, 37th, and 64th minute, bringing it to a total of 6 goals. No City Player has scored against United since Francis Lee in 1970 and Haaland increased his goal tally to 17 goals from 10 matches.
The home fans chanted “we want 10” – which seemed entirely possible – and mocked their opponent’s lumbering efforts to try and get back into the game with “oohs” as they strung passes together or had a shot. When Anthony Martial scored the first of his two late consolation goals some City fans even mockingly cheered.
It was a catastrophe for Man. Utd fans, who could not contain the humiliation and started leaving the stadium even before the end of the match. Sir Alex Ferguson sat in the stands and his face betrayed his feelings. A mix of anger and discomfort was felt, surely, by Erik ten Hag in the dugout as he sat forlornly watching on and wondering what had happened to United with their bad performance of late.
Their lack of fight was shown with Raphael Varane suffering a first-half injury, turning his ankle, staying down, and then looking like he could not get off the pitch quickly enough as he was substituted. From a corner Christian Eriksen, instead of Varane, was left marking Haaland – five inches and two stones heavier than him. It summed up the mismatch and, of course, Haaland scored.
You could see the combination and coordination in Man. city but Man. United functioned in isolation.
