For the Manchester United leadership, Manchester City is a perfect winning machine that they both admire and desire to follow. Wanted talents like Antoine Semenyo or recently Marc Guehi have all chosen to wear the blue shirt, while only a generation ago, Old Trafford was the dream destination of every young player.
The glory of the past of Man United is increasingly stained with nostalgia, but perhaps it is still not completely fading away. The players who were once led by Sir Alex Ferguson in difficult times are gradually depleting, but Michael Carrick - in his second tenure - has found a way to take advantage of that legacy.
He only has 17 matches left, but the reward is attractive enough when a Champions League comeback is no longer a dream. Instead of accepting the power vacuum, Carrick's Man United sends a clear message. Sporting directors, analytical data or long-term strategy are all important, but fighting spirit and desire to win are the decisive factors.
The moment Ferguson smiled brightly in the stands, completely opposite to Pep Guardiola's distraught face, was an image that satisfied Man United fans. Man City's opportunity to defend the throne vanished, Erling Haaland left the field early in helplessness after being completely blocked by Lisandro Martinez and Harry Maguire.
For fans who have lived through decades of confrontation, the rival's defeat is sometimes as sweet as their own victory. Especially when their favorite team directly launches the finishing blow.
Ruben Amorim, the coach who seemed to never believe in the Man United legend, perhaps underestimated the people he did not really like. Escaping the rigid 3-defender system, Bruno Fernandes was returned to his creative role instead of just rotating in midfield and surprisingly, Man United players have found their ability to show themselves again.
Stretford End stands are covered with flags, reminding that the legacy of the "Red Devils" is still burning in the hearts of fans. Responding to the mocking smiles from Man City fans, M.U fans raised the number "115" - a symbol of unresolved legal disputes - as a psychological counter-attack.
But when the opening whistle sounded, all the side controversy immediately gave way to the most pure football.
Old Trafford was boiling from the first minute. The stands were shaken when Maguire headed the ball into the crossbar. Guardiola continuously scratched his head in confusion, while Gianluigi Donnarumma had to show his talent twice to save for City's defense who played disjointedly.
On the sidelines, Carrick - wearing a black shirt reminiscent of his old teacher - calmly observed, completely opposite to the increasing tension on Guardiola's face.
It is undeniable that Man City is no longer the unbeatable team of 3 years ago. This partly helps Man United, even though they spent nearly 500 million pounds to rebuild the squad last year.
In a rhythmic first half, Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo became the main counter-attacking spearheads. Kobbie Mainoo, a player who was once eliminated by Amorim, also left his mark when side by side with Casemiro to face the famous trio Rodri, Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva. In this match, City's experience was gradually swept away by the fierce intensity.
Man United maintained continuous pressure, keeping a reasonable team distance to create more clear opportunities. Abdukodir Khusanov and Max Alleyne, two inexperienced center-backs, revealed limitations. Meanwhile, Nico O'Reilly, although only having 30 matches in the Premier League, played maturely like a veteran.
Guardiola understands that City's future is still promising, but the present is a different story. Rico Lewis' serious mistake in the second goal conceded, when he was easily overcome by Patrick Dorgu, is clear proof of the thorny reconstruction process.
Man City is struggling to maintain discipline - the foundation for previous success. Not every contract is effective, and there have been many investments that have become wasteful. In that context, Donnarumma - who was once suspected of not being in Guardiola's philosophy - is a rare bright spot.
The two consecutive saves of the Italian goalkeeper against Amad and Casemiro in the second half reminded that, although modern football values the ability to play with the feet, the most important task of a goalkeeper is still to protect the goal. Donnarumma's emotional celebration after each save shows that mental pressure is increasing - something that Man City ultimately could not bear anymore.
