Manchester City produced one of the most defiant away performances of Enzo Maresca’s short reign so far, beating Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford despite playing more than an hour with 10 men, and star striker Erling Haaland says the result showed the true character of this City side.
The Norwegian scored the only goal of the game on the hour mark, turning home a deflected cross to settle the 199th edition of the Manchester derby. The result leaves City level on points with Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table after four games.
Foden’s red card changes the game
The contest turned early when Phil Foden was shown a red card in the first half for reacting with his foot toward Bruno Fernandes, after the United captain had kicked out at him while he was down.
It meant Maresca, taking charge of his first Manchester derby since replacing Pep Guardiola at the Etihad, had to rethink his approach with the vast majority of the match still to play.
Rather than crumble, City reorganised into a more compact shape and, if anything, looked more purposeful going forward once reduced to 10 men.
United had their moments — Marcus Rashford’s free-kick struck a post before half-time, and Kobbie Mainoo also tested the away goal early in the second half — but they could not find a way past a resolute City rearguard, managing only a handful of shots on target across the entire ninety minutes.
Haaland’s breakthrough arrived when he expertly turned in a deflected delivery, and after a lengthy VAR check for offside, the goal was allowed to stand, sparking wild scenes among the travelling City supporters.
Goalkeeping heroics at the other end, including a stoppage-time save to deny Bryan Mbeumo, ensured the lead held all the way to the final whistle.
Haaland: ‘This shows the personality, the character’
Speaking after the match, Haaland — who has now scored in the Manchester derby for a ninth time explained how City adapted their normal approach to protect their numerical disadvantage and still find a way to win.
“It’s amazing [to win with 10 men], I have to be honest! We had to lay low, which is not ideal, we like to keep the ball, try to score goals,” he said, according to City Xtra.
“But these times, you have to lay a bit low and take your chances when it’s possible, and we managed to do that well. And I think this shows the personality, the character, to keep the ball away at Old Trafford with 10 men. That is personality!”
It is a rare experience for a City side used to dominating possession, but one that Haaland believes speaks volumes about the mentality within Maresca’s squad as they continue to search for both silverware and identity under their new head coach.
A big early statement for Maresca’s City
For Maresca, the victory represents an important marker in his first months in charge at the Etihad.
Beating your fiercest rivals away from home, with 10 men for the majority of the contest, is the kind of result that can define the tone of a manager’s tenure.
The win also extended City’s perfect start to the league campaign to four straight victories, keeping them in the hunt at the summit of the table alongside Arsenal.
It is City’s 65th win in derby history from 199 meetings with United, further tilting one of English football’s most storied rivalries in their favour.
