Football news - No Silva lining for Jose Mourinho after derby humbling
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Updated 11/11/2018 at 23:09 GMT
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho came into the derby on a hot streak but he and his team were left cold after their trip to the Etihad, writes Pete Sharland.
Manchester City's Spanish midfielder David Silva (L) celebrates with Manchester City's Portuguese midfielder Bernardo Silva after scoring during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium
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Jose Mourinho’s team for the derby was telling. With Paul Pogba out of the match through injury, the Portuguese packed his midfield with Ander Herrera, Nemanja Matic and Marouane Fellaini.
A more Mourinho midfield you could not wish for.
In front of them were Jesse Lingard, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial. A trio of quick and clever players. With the protection behind, Mourinho clearly wanted to rely on their pace on the break to devastating effect, combined with the chaos Fellaini can cause.
It is a technique Mourinho has used so often during his managerial career and Bournemouth and Juventus have both found themselves on the wrong end of it recently.
However, against Pep Guardiola’s juggernaut, United came up short, undone by the thing Mourinho lacks most, a midfield wizard.
Or should that be midfield wizards? For both David and Bernardo Silva were instrumental in this City victory, highlighting just how wrong Mourinho was to pick power over precision.
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Jose Mourinho, Manager of Manchester United
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The two Silvas were the metronomes in midfield, controlling the game and keeping City ticking over at all times.
They combined beautifully for the first goal when Bernardo’s clever pass across goal found its way to David at the back post, the Spaniard keeping his composure beautifully to sell a defender and then slam the ball past his compatriot David De Gea.
And Bernardo registered his second assist of the day when his gorgeous clip over the United defence found substitute Ilkay Gundogan, who finished off United with an emphatic finish.
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David Silva of Manchester City celebrates with teammate Bernardo Silva after scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Etihad Stadium on November 11, 2018 in Manchester, United Kingdom.
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You would struggle to find their type in a Mourinho team, Juan Mata is very much a plan B or C in this current set-up - as shown by his late arrival as a substitute.
Yet the pair did the side of the game Mourinho cherishes as well. They tracked their man diligently, Bernardo winning three tackles by himself, and they were more than prepared to throw themselves about.
In the past, Mourinho’s teams, most notably at Chelsea and Inter Milan, have bullied their way to success. The Portuguese's victory over Guardiola in the semi-finals of the 2010 Champions League with Inter was one of his crowning moments.
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Josep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City gives his team instructions during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Etihad Stadium on November 11, 2018 in Manchester, United Kingdom.
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But times have changed and those processes no longer work. Fellaini can conjure moments as he did against Juventus but by and large they are few and far between.
Last season Pogba inspired his team to one of the greatest comebacks in derby history. He wasn’t available today and without him United looked void of any kind of creativity.
By contrast City had any number of creative influences to turn to, led by the two Silvas, and they’re getting tougher as well.
When Martial’s penalty halved the deficit all talk flashed back to that game last season: were City going to crack, particularly when the chance had come out of nowhere after another rash moment from Ederson.
Yet City kept their composure, led by their keeper, who continued to play his game, charging out of goal when required and playing passes most midfielders would envy.
And to kill the game in the manner they did, with that sumptuous 44-pass move, will bring Guardiola no end of pleasure.
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Ilkay Gündogan
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His team’s mental toughness can no longer be questioned, they faced a tricky moment in one of their biggest games of the season, and they responded perfectly.
Speaking on TV after the game, Gary Neville said we should not be comparing the two Manchester clubs, such is the gulf in class between the two.
The 12-point gap that has opened up would suggest he is correct, as would the startling statistic that whilst United’s goal difference has slipped to -1, City’s has risen to 31.
And this was done on Guardiola’s terms. Seven of City’s starting XI were signed by Guardiola, just two of United’s were signed by Mourinho.
We’re nearly two-and-a-half years into the Mourinho project and still this squad is a mis-match, with the manager’s preferences seemingly changing on a weekly basis.
Mourinho can point to the absence of Pogba and how thin his squad is, but he has made some bizarre decisions in the transfer market, no matter how badly he has been let down by his board.
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Manchester City celebrate
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Guardiola was without his best player, Kevin De Bruyne, and he didn’t even need to call upon Gabriel Jesus from the bench.
Neville is right, this is now a world where Liverpool fans were openly cheering for United, they are more than aware of who their real rival is at this moment in time.
It is an alarming moment for the Old Trafford club as they strive for relevancy against the new wave of positivity brought by Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp.
They remain the biggest club in England, one of the biggest in the world, but they’re facing another season without success.
At the end of Mourinho’s third season in charge of United he could find his great nemesis just one Premier League title behind him.
Give it another year or two and Pep will be the one demanding respect…
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