Chapter 1: What were the highlights of the Manchester derby?
Rashford, he's in here, he scores! And it's a lad from Manchester who scores in the derby for Manchester United. Aguero! United have cut the Manchester divide to just a single point.
Here's Manchester United's day in the derby. They won by one goal to nil at the Etihad. Just look at the contrast in attempts, 26-5. That's the second most Manchester City have had in a Premier League game this season, only three, though, on target. Home side had more of the ball, more passing as well. Again, the contrast in the touches in the opposition area.
Chapter 2: How did Manchester United secure their victory over Manchester City?
But it's United who took the points. They hung on. Chris Smalling, outstanding throughout. He was the man of the match. And along with his captain is with Jeff Shreves. Well done, Chris and Michael. First, a tremendous victory. It looked like that took absolutely everything you had in the tank.
Yeah, it did, Dan. I thought we were good first off, great goal from Marcus, unbelievable finish from him.
Chapter 3: What role did Marcus Rashford play in the match?
We were hanging on towards the end, tired bodies, dropping, cramping everywhere, but it's been a long week, it's been a tough week. We've got through it in the end, it's a great result for us and it's a way to bounce back from Thursday night. What do you think changed the pattern of the game, Chris?
Because they started out slightly sharper and had the better chances.
Yeah, I think we knew that it was hard to replicate the first half performance, I think with that tempo and intensity. And in the end, we had to drop into our shape a lot of times and defend very well. So they got the incentive in that second half, but we dug in.
Michael mentioned the goalscorer, Marcus Rashford. What do you fellas make of him and his ability, and to do that in a Manchester derby?
Oh, it's great to see.
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Chapter 4: How did Chris Smalling's performance impact the game?
I mean, it's so refreshing just to see a young kid who wants to just run at defenders, and I know that if I was up against him, it'd be a very difficult game. Were you fortunate to stay on the pitch today? Were you worried you were going to get a second yellow?
No, I think it was always obviously difficult getting an early booking, but I don't think there was any malicious in that one, but I had to be careful, and a couple of times I had to sort of pull out of tackles, but I had to manage it.
What does this do for you?
Obviously, it's three points, it closes the gap, but because it's Manchester City, Michael, is it more than three points? I think it is more than three points. I think the position we're in in the league was a must-win today for us. We had to get the three points today. Before the international break, give us a boost, you know, and something to go at when we come back.
Chapter 5: What were the key tactical changes made by United during the match?
We've got some massive league games and obviously the Cup game, so it gives us a bit of momentum, really, going into the final stages. As well as momentum, Chris, does it give you belief, do you think?
Yeah, I think it does. When you turn up in big games, it means more than anything. So I think we'll take this and hopefully have a good end to the season. Obviously, we've still got the Cup to play for, so there's still some silverware. OK, I'll tell you what else you take away from this. You're the Barclays man.
It was very close between the two of you, but you just edged it.
We'll talk about the implications of that result in a moment, but Jamie, Chris Smalling saying they dug in United.
Chapter 6: How did the players react to the intense atmosphere of the derby?
How good a rearguard action was that to take the points? It was, and I think in terms of him getting man of the match, I think Louis van Gaal gets a lot of criticism for maybe the job he's done and plays who've come and gone. But he's one of the massive success stories, I think, of Louis van Gaal's time.
Here at the club, I think his game has gone up levels, really, where you're thinking he's the leader at the back of Manchester United. I think going into the summer, I'm trying to think now, I think he would be the standout England centre-back. I think he'd be first choice in the summer. I think he was outstanding today. I think his first booking was interesting in that he went really aggressive.
That was his thing with Aguero today. And Aguero took him on.
Chapter 7: What implications does this result have for the Premier League standings?
And we see it there. And you think, don't get too aggressive with Aguero, don't get too tight. And he gets the yellow card. But he kept at his job. It didn't sort of stop him. Jeff's just mentioned in the interview, he's been quite diplomatic there, I think, in the interview with Chris Small, and he knows he should have been sent off.
But that was obviously his plan right from the start, to be as aggressive. You're talking about one of the best strikers in the world.
He's very lucky to get away with that, and he's just misjudged it, but it comes, again, from trying to be aggressive, trying to be tight, trying to get in front, and, listen, he's got a couple of wrongs, he's been fortunate, but he was outstanding on the day, and I think a lot of it comes from maybe the manager and giving him that sort of leadership and experience he's now got at the back, he's picking up, and he looks like a leader at the back of Manchester United.
Your assessment, Graeme, of United's performance?
Chapter 8: What are the expectations for Manchester United moving forward?
I think they did really well today. I thought, first half... Very threatening on the break. Obviously expected to spend a lot of time without the ball. City are a good team when they're on the front foot going forward. Second half, after they get their goal united in the second half, City had to come after them. They huffed and puffed. But United stood firm.
When you think they only had three saves to make in 90 minutes, it tells a story. It means the guys in front of them did a really good job. I think United will be much encouraged by the way the young guys played in the first half. When City were going after them, it showed they've got pace, imagination, and Martial, I think he's going to be an absolute star.
I mean, given he's 20 years old, I think he's going to be a star. But United were really good today, and I think the manager deserves credit. We get after him all the time. I think he deserves great credit, sticking with these young guys. We picked Holden, playing the young ones all the time before the game. But they came good for him today.
But what you get with young players, and that's been my United season, really, is young players and players are not quite good enough. You get sort of peaks and troughs. You don't get that consistency. You're not getting your eight out of ten every week that the top players give you. you get a good game and a different game. And I think today, United had a good day.
And the manager deserves credit, doesn't he, for sticking with Marcus Rashford, an eighth straight start, paid dividends. Yeah, for sure. And it was so refreshing to see him get the start. He's kept him in.
And the goal, the simplicity of it, you know, we did speak beforehand that there was a weakness there at the back, that pace could be a big factor here and Man United's best chance of getting something to Michalis in particular. But... As well as Mata does here, he doesn't set up a definite opportunity.
He just gives it to Madbox, but it's that lovely quick feet, that drop of the shoulder and gone, leaves Dimitrescu on his backside. It was like the young lad, he had no fear. As soon as it came to him, he went, I'm going to get at him. I know I can get at him. And of course he does, and he puts a brilliant finish in.
Put that into perspective, Niall, for a kid of this age in a Manchester derby, 16 minutes in, and he shows that coolness. It's absolutely fantastic.
It is so difficult to do what he's done, to come into the team in a very difficult time for the club, stick flying everywhere, and he's been that breath of fresh air that they've kind of relied upon over the last few weeks to keep people from continuously battering the club. He's been the one, the young lad, and he's just enjoying himself. But to do it with a youthful exuberance is one thing.
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