Manchester City's Derby Demolition Shows They Are Streets Ahead of United

This Manchester derby, the first of the season and the first of the Pep Guardiola-Jose Mourinho era, was supposed to be a tight affair. The two clubs are expected to contest the Premier League title after each spending in excess of £150 million on strengthening their squads in the summer. With habitual winners in the dugout and an array of talent on the pitch, this was a new chapter in Manchester football and too close for most observers to confidently call before kick off.

What followed was wildly different. Manchester City, enriched by Guardiola’s tactical innovations and enthusiasm, completely outplayed their opponents in what was one of the most one-sided derby matches in years.

The first half saw City run riot—quicker to the ball and more inventive than United. The second brought out a different, but no less impressive, side to Guardiola’s team, as they produced a fighting display to seal the points. The 2-1 scoreline flattered United. At points in the first half, the 6-1 win City managed at Old Trafford back in 2011 looked in danger of being eclipsed, such was their superiority.

There will be concern among the United coaching staff at what they saw. It’s early in Mourinho’s tenure, but the quality of their football was poor. While City moved the ball quickly, playing slick, inventive football, United often resorted to route one—long balls in the direction of Marouane Fellani to knock down to Zlatan Ibrahimovic. It lacked creativity, something City produced in spades, and the absence of Sergio Aguero made the result even more impressive.

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

David Silva, freed by Guardiola, was at the heart of everything, always with time and space, his head up, looking to play neat one-twos with his team-mates. He’s widely seen as City’s greatest ever player, yet his form this season suggests we haven’t seen him at his best during his previous six seasons at the club. This is a new level; a level that should see City compete for multiple trophies this season.

Kevin De Bruyne scored the opener after capitalising on a Kelechi Iheanacho flick on, and he went on to hit the woodwork on three occasions, finishing the game in a False 9 position and leading the line with aplomb. City, perhaps, have the best two attacking midfielders in the Premier League, and they are revelling in their new roles.

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Kevin De Bruyne's game by numbers vs. Man Utd:

100% take-ons completed
6 chances created
6 shots
1 goal

Superb. pic.twitter.com/JfkwR4EePF

— Squawka Football (@Squawka) September 10, 2016"

Fernandinho was City’s most consistent player last season, but his game has improved under Guardiola. He drove City forward, winning the ball in deep positions and then looking to attack the United defence. His tackle in the final seconds summed up City’s second-half efforts and further underlined his importance to this side.

Guardiola, surely, expected a longer period of transition. His ideas are completely new to English football. He inherited a squad of players who limped to the finishing line in last season’s Premier League and only just qualified for the Champions League play-off places.

Yet, six games in, and there are vast improvements. City have dismantled Steaua Bucharest to qualify for the Champions League proper, and have won all four of their Premier League matches and sit top of the table. With each game that passes, they look sharper and more well versed in Guardiola’s ideas.

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Pep Guardiola is the first Manchester City manager in history to win his first 6 games in charge of the club. pic.twitter.com/kA5pv3LL73

— Squawka Football (@Squawka) September 10, 2016"

Iheanacho became City’s youngest goalscorer in a derby game when he added a second. He has now scored nine goals from his last 13 shots on target and continues to develop into a fine forward. He may lack experience, and Guardiola was right to take him off early in the second half, but this is a young player with so much quality. At the final whistle, he went over to the away end to show his appreciation and was greeted with the fans singing his name on a loop.

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Proud of our performance. Big win for the fans and the team! #CmonCity pic.twitter.com/1rhJbR8ed8

— Kevin De Bruyne (@DeBruyneKev) September 10, 2016"

Perhaps the only the negative for Guardiola was debutant Claudio Bravo dropping a ball into the box late in the first half that saw Ibrahimovic hook the ball home. Bravo, a ball-playing 'keeper who acts as an auxiliary outfield player, also had a few hairy moments when distributing the ball. The City boss admitted after the game having a goalkeeper who looks to involve himself in the team's passing is a risky strategy—but says he will not deviate from the possession-based style he favours.

"Yeah [if you pass the ball from the back] it can be too risky; if you lose the ball they will score but you can control the game,” he said.

"Until my last day in England I will try to play with the ball as much as possible. I know it's impossible for 90 minutes but I'm sorry, I will not negotiate that.

“Today we made a lesson with the ball.”

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A game of two halves.

Watch part of Jose Mourinho's post-match press conference. #MUFC #MUTVHD https://t.co/6ast0IbIhm

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) September 10, 2016"

City’s forward play impressed hugely, and will be the focus of the post-match analysis for most observers, but City’s defending was superb. Nicolas Otamendi, so often a reckless, careless presence last season, was absolutely outstanding, showing desire and commitment to get the result. His partner, John Stones, just 22, looks like he’s been at City for years, such is the breathless ease he’s adapted to his new surroundings. Manuel Pellegrini’s City looked soft and porous last season. Guardiola’s, although far from perfect, have much more steel.

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Nicolas Otamendi's game by numbers vs. Man Utd:

100% tackles won
8 clearances
6 interceptions
4 aerial duels won pic.twitter.com/er6pHAaxfV

— Squawka Football (@Squawka) September 10, 2016"

“The central defenders were outstanding,” Guardiola said afterwards.

“What Claudio did was one of the best performances I’ve ever seen. I like goalkeepers to play in front and after that [United] goal, he continued playing in our build-up, playing long balls and coming out to pick it up.

“In football, it’s about how you react to mistakes – it shows character. He continued playing. It means a lot.

“The way we train and the way we play has given me a lot of confidence.

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The picture says it all..... pic.twitter.com/72i0ztR5w6

— Pablo Zabaleta (@pablo_zabaleta) September 10, 2016"

"We played good in the first half because of Claudio. I like the keepers to attack the ball and after what happened, in the second half he continued to play and that’s a good thing about his personality. He was one of the reasons we played well in the first half.”

The pre-match hype was typically over the top. There have been far bigger derbies in recent memory—the 2011 FA Cup semi-final and the 2012 title-decider at the Etihad Stadium—but make no mistake, City have dealt United a significant psychological blow early in the season. City look far superior to their supposed closest domestic rivals, even this early in the season.

Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and follows the club from a Manchester base. All quotes and information were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

Follow him on Twitter @RobPollard_.