Blues defeat just an off-day
Derby Day is usually a tense affair for both sides of the border between Manchester and Salford, but in recent years, it has become more of a fraught experience on the Manchester City side. For so long, the Faithful would look towards Derby Day as perhaps the highlight of their season, a chance to put one over on their illustrious neighbours. But that pendulum has swung in the opposite direction, and it is now United fans who are circling the dates in their calendars.
In the early 90s and the 25 years of the Premier League, United were dominant, not only in Manchester but in the division too, while City’s best hope for anything was a decent cup run, which would most often end at the quarter-final stage, if not before.
In the late 80s and early 90s, United were spending the cash to bring in the type of players that would end their obsession with being crowned champions of England for the first time since 1968. In 1989, they spent around £6m (a huge amount in those days) to redevelop the side, whilst City around a third of that to try and keep their place in the First Division. The first Derby took place just a few weeks into the season and Blues fans were relishing the opportunity while United fans arrived at Maine Road in expectation of a win against a weak City side.
City raised their game and thrashed the Reds 5-1 in a match that was written into Maine Road folklore.
The two could then barely be separated until the riches of the Premier League arrived, and United took over. Reds fans would make their journey up from London, viewing a match against City as an easy three points, and instead of looking forward to a Derby, would rather be facing Liverpool or Arsenal, who they saw as their main rivals – not the club from across town.
City were struggling in the Premier League and saw the match against United as their only real joy of the season if they could manage to beat them. They pushed the Reds close on some occasions, but just not enough to get the three points and too many times, the Reds emerged victorious and City went 16 matches against the Stretford Rangers without a win.
United fans were already arrogant in their belief that they should be winning everything, but on Derby Day, that arrogance and air of superiority was unbearable. It was almost like there was a divine right that they should take the points – all they had to do was turn up. In the supporter’s eyes, at least. But that didn’t stop the Faithful from looking at Derby Day as the highlight of their seasonal calendar, as it was still an opportunity to beat them and dent their hopes of winning the title.
In the early 2000s, City returned to the Premier League and the Derby Day battles resumed and once again, United were favourites, but City would raise their game. In 2002, the Blues secured their first Derby Day win since 1989, beating the Reds 3-1. They then thrashed their rivals 4-1 the following season at their new home in East Manchester. But the arrogance from the Reds’ fans continued, brushing off such defeats as an ‘off day’ for their team, and they would soon return to ‘business as usual.’ And so it continued.
In 2012, it was highly anticipated that the balance of power in Manchester would finally swing in City’s favour, and it began with the 6-1 thrashing City dished out to the Reds at Old Trafford in October 2011. That was the moment when United fans finally realised their dominance in Manchester was over. Up until that point, City had been making a lot of noise but still not competing. That Derby Day victory began to turn the Faithful’s hopes of victory into expectation. For United fans, it went the other way.
When Alex Ferguson finally retired in 2013 after 27 years at the helm, the Faithful watched as United imploded. City had been through 18 managers during the period Ferguson had been in charge, but suddenly it was their turn. United went through manager after manager, looking for someone who could revive the team and bring silverware back to Old Trafford. Thirteen men have tried with limited success. Meanwhile, the City fans were now looking at Derby matches without the concern of defeat, even though it still happened.
It was now the turn of United fans to look at the calendar and see where they could try and put a dent in City’s title aspirations. It is now their turn to look at the matches against City not in expectation, but in hope. Given the turmoil of the recent weeks, few United fans would have expected a result against City at the weekend. However, just as City did for years, United raised their game and almost treated it like their cup final.
And the celebrations at the end inside Old Trafford proved this.
The end of the Derbies during United’s period of dominance was met with a cheer, low applause and many fans leaving before the final whistle. On Saturday lunchtime, no Reds were leaving the stadium before the end, staying until the final whistle and celebrating as if they’d just won the World Cup. How times have changed.
For City, well, we have Champions League qualification to secure on Tuesday, a League Cup Final to reach, Arsenal to chase down and the FA Cup to challenge for.
By United fans’ previous standards, Saturday was just an off day.
Category: General Sports
