Another derby win as Manchester United cement their place as number one in Manchester – not that it was in any doubt of course. But the 2-1 victory over Manchester City in the Premier League on Saturday will quell the noisy neighbours for the moment at least, while also putting paid to any slim title ambitions they had.
It is one thing to beat City, but to beat them with such a magnificent goal makes the victory taste that bit sweeter.
Excellent execution and placement, especially from a player who has been criminally out of form for the best part of a year. Wayne Rooney later told The Guardian, “The Manchester United fans deserve that from me.” He is not wrong.
But lets not get too carried away with the goal. For long parts of the match City were on top, and Vincent Kompany had the better of Rooney for almost the full 90 minutes. It took a moment of magic from the forward to even get a sniff at goal.
Kompany, with a wry smile, acknowledged the mastery of Rooney’s goal, “I was bitterly disappointed but, in a way, I was smiling when I got back to the dressing room because I gave him nothing in the whole game and then he does that,” he said.
However, the real question will be whether or not this leads to an upturn in form from England’s best striker?
The real man on the moment for me was Nani. The Portuguese terrorized Pablo Zabaleta and it was a scared Argentinian who allowed the winger to cross for Rooney’s wondergoal.
In other news from Old Trafford, it has been reported that Rio Ferdinand will be looking to extend his contract and thus finish his career with United.
A good move, as he has become synonymous with the club and although he might not play as regularly as he once used to, his experience is invaluable to the young defenders we have at the club.
Something Chris Smalling acknowledged after the derby: “I was talking to Rio on Friday and he was giving me little pointers. He has played with and against Carlos Tevez for many years and seen him in training every day for a couple of years so he was giving me little bits of advice on how to play him.
“He was making the point that Carlos likes to feel the defenders at his back. So you let him have his touch before you move in and go for him. It was great advice because he is a tricky player. It was a really good challenge for me.”
As usual the tabloids are rolling out the numerous summer transfer targets. Most recently another bid for Tottenham’s Gareth Bale mooted with a fee of around £40 million plus Michael Carrick. Ashley Young is another player linked, with the Villa man expected to fetch a fee of something in the region of £25 million, and according to the Daily Mirror, Fergie tried to snap him up in January.
