Feature

TEN memorable moments from the Manchester derby

By Adrian Kajumba 12 Dec 2024
MCIMUN best moments

Ahead of Man City v Man Utd on Sunday, Adrian Kajumba selects iconic events between the two sides

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Manchester City host local rivals Manchester United on Sunday, in their first derby since Ruben Amorim took charge of the visitors.

Here, football writer Adrian Kajumba picks out some incredible goals, individual displays, matches and incidents from this mouthwatering fixture during the Premier League era. 

Neville v Schmeichel in tunnel - November 2002

The idea of a Man Utd player going on to play for Man City was something Gary Neville could never endorse.

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That was part of the reason he memorably snubbed Peter Schmeichel in the tunnel as they prepared to lead their respective sides out ahead of the final Maine Road derby.

Neville insisted he never shook hands with opposing captains, even when his own brother Phil was Everton skipper.

But the look of almost disdain on his face when Schmeichel approached him told its own story about his view on the Danish goalkeeper joining Man City three years after leaving Man Utd, via spells with Sporting Lisbon and Aston Villa

"I couldn't understand how you played for Man City," Neville said to Schmeichel, in an episode of the former’s Soccer Box TV series.

Neville shuns Schmeichel

Recalling how he was blanked by Neville, Schmeichel told the UTD Podcast: "I kind of liked him for it. You have to look very, very hard to find anyone who’s got more passion for Man Utd than Gary Neville."

That incident was not Neville’s only notable contribution to this occasion. He also made a mistake to gift Shaun Goater one of his two goals in a famous 3-1 win for Man City, their first against Man Utd since 1989. 

Manchester unites to mark Munich air disaster - February 2008

The second Manchester derby of 2007/08 coincided with the 50th anniversary of the Munich air disaster and the two clubs came together to pay their respects on a hugely emotional occasion at Old Trafford. 

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The names of the 23 victims of the 1958 tragedy, including eight Man Utd players and three members of club staff, were displayed on banners, hoardings and the mascots' shirts. 

The teams were led onto the pitch by a lone piper before the two managers, Sir Alex Ferguson and Sven-Goran Eriksson, wearing black armbands like the players, laid wreaths in the centre circle.

Man Utd Man City 50
Sven-Goran Eriksson and Sir Alex Ferguson carry wreaths to lay on the pitch after leading the teams out at Old Trafford

Despite pre-match concerns, there was an impeccably observed minute's silence while fans held commemorative scarves above their heads.

The two teams were given permission to wear special retro, logo-less kits for the match. 

Man Utd's shirts had a 1958-inspired design, with no names on the back and numbered one to 11 rather than their usual squad numbers.

Man City won the match 2-1, with January signing Benjani marking his debut with what proved to be the winning strike. It earned the Blues their first triumph at Old Trafford since 1974, when Denis Law's backheeled goal led to Man Utd, his former club, being relegated from the top flight.

Benjani's big-impact

However, this derby in February 2008 was one where the result was secondary and the unity shown by both clubs on a moving afternoon was the abiding memory. 

Owen's dramatic stoppage-time winner - September 2009

Michael Owen made his name at Liverpool but will forever have a place in Man Utd folklore after scoring one of the most dramatic derby goals.

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In a rollercoaster classic, Man City equalised three times and were set to leave with a point after Craig Bellamy made it 3-3 in the 90th minute.

But substitute Owen sent Old Trafford wild with the winner six minutes into stoppage time, long after frustrated City manager Mark Hughes expected to hear the final whistle.

It was a moment that will always be fondly remembered by Man Utd fans regardless of Owen's past with Liverpool, helping him win round some of his doubters. It also had wider significance beyond the pitch.

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City were at the start of their rise following their transformative takeover in 2008.

Their summer of big spending included the controversial capture of Carlos Tevez from Man Utd which inspired City’s provocative "Welcome to Manchester" poster. 

A 100 per cent record from their first four Premier League matches, which left them level with United on 12 points heading into the derby, was also a statement of City's intent. 

The needle between the two managers in the build-up added extra spice. 

Ferguson was naturally pleased to break Man City hearts and put them in their place, even if it was just temporary. 

"Sometimes you have a noisy neighbour. You cannot do anything about that. They will always be noisy," he said after his side's 4-3 victory

"You just have to get on with your life, put your television on and turn it up a bit louder. Today the players showed their form. That is the best answer of all."

United's derby delight sealed with a kiss!  - April 2010

There was more late drama and further unforgettable scenes after another last-minute winning goal for Man Utd in 2009/10's return fixture at the Etihad Stadium.

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Paul Scholes was the scorer this time, heading in Patrice Evra’s cross at the death.

That sparked bedlam in the away end, sent Ferguson dancing down the touchline and earned Scholes a celebratory kiss from team-mate Gary Neville.

Neville said: "A few people have given me a bit of stick. But I’ve spoken to a lot of my mates, who said they’d have done exactly the same if they’d been able to get to him! I was just so happy."

Neville Scholes

Scholes said: "A kiss on the lips from Nev is worth it any time after a winner against City!"

The goal that sparked Neville’s outpouring of emotion was a huge one for Man Utd at the time, leaving them one point behind Chelsea and their title hopes still alive with three games to go.

But that was a gap they never clawed back as they were pipped to the title by Chelsea by a point.

Rooney's sensational overhead kick - February 2011

By his own admission, Wayne Rooney had "probably one of the worst games I’ve played" in this derby. 

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But nobody remembers that after the way he won it - with one of the best goals not just in this fixture, but in the history of the Premier League.

After Nani’s cross took a deflection, Rooney readjusted and met it with an incredible overhead kick that flew into the top corner before Man City goalkeeper Joe Hart had the chance to react.

Ferguson described it as the best goal he ever saw at Old Trafford. His stunned expression reflected his disbelief. 

Rooney’s celebration also capped the moment. He sprinted to the corner flag, spun to face his onrushing team-mates and stood with his arms outstretched, looking up to the heavens, before bowing to the crowd.

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"The celebration befitted what had happened before," Scholes said.

Man Utd had suffered a first Premier League defeat of the season at Wolverhampton Wanderers in their previous outing. 

Beating Man City 2-1 helped Ferguson's men get things back on track, remain top of the table and keep their third-placed neighbours at arm's length. 

And Rooney’s goal proved to be one of the defining moments of their season as they went on to win the 2010/11 title.

Balotelli's "Why always me?" celebration - October 2011

In a match featuring seven goals, a red card and historic final scoreline for both Man City and Man Utd, Mario Balotelli once again showed his unique ability to steal the headlines.

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Balotelli kickstarted Man City’s famous 6-1 win - their biggest derby triumph and United’s worst home defeat since 1955 - with the opening goal of the match. 

What followed was a celebration as memorable as anything else that happened at Old Trafford on this day.

Balotelli, the subject of several off-field stories during his time in England, including one on the eve of the derby about fireworks being let off in his house, lifted his shirt to reveal a top with the question "Why always me?".

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"It was [a message] to all the people... talking bad about me and saying stuff, not nice about me," the striker told the BBC.  

"And they don't know me, so [I was] just asking 'Why always me? Like, why always me?'". 

Kompany's cracker tees up City's first PL title - April 2012

Man Utd recovered from that 6-1 humiliation to eventually regain top spot and control of the 2011/12 title race with the finishing line in sight.

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But a 1-0 defeat at Wigan Athletic and 4-4 home draw against Everton in two April fixtures let Man City back in and set up what was billed as one of the biggest games in Premier League history.

With just three matches remaining, this second vs first Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium was going to be pivotal in deciding the destiny of the title.

It was fitting that City’s inspirational captain Vincent Kompany scored the winner with a towering header on the stroke of half time.

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Man City's 1-0 victory sent them back to the top of the table on goal difference. 

And the Blues just about held their nerve by winning their final two matches to clinch their first Premier League title on goal difference, thanks to Sergio Aguero's decisive stoppage-time strike against Queens Park Rangers on the last day of the campaign.

After that, the floodgates opened for Man City. Seven titles have been won in the 12 seasons since as they have established themselves as the Premier League’s dominant force. Kompany’s header was a critical moment in the power shift in Manchester and English football.

Van Persie's late winner - December 2012

"Of all the setbacks I endured, nothing compared to losing the league to City," Ferguson said of the 2011/12 season. 

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After such a draining campaign, Ferguson had all but decided he had just one more season left before retiring. But he was hell-bent on going out with one last Premier League title. 

He signalled his intent by prising the division's best striker and one-time Man City target, Robin Van Persie, away from Arsenal for a reported fee of £24 million.

And Ferguson got one of the best returns on his investment in Van Persie's derby debut.

After Man City fought back from 2-0 down to draw level in the 86th minute through Pablo Zabaleta, Van Persie won the game dramatically with a deflected 92nd-minute free-kick. 

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That 3-2 away victory ended Man City’s 37-match unbeaten home run in the Premier League and left Man Utd six points clear of their neighbours in top spot. 

They remained there until the end of the season to make it mission accomplished for Ferguson, inspired by Van Persie who retained his Golden Boot with 26 goals. 

United delay Man City's coronation - April 2018

The Red Devils only really had pride to play for when they visited Man City in April 2018 and it kicked in spectacularly on this day.

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Pep Guardiola’s side needed just one more victory to clinch the Premier League and the chance to secure it by beating United was an obvious added incentive.

All was going to plan at half-time with Man City 2-0 up and outclassing Man Utd.

But from nowhere, Jose Mourinho’s men roared back with a stunning second-half fightback, scoring three times in 16 minutes to win 3-2 and force City to shelve their celebrations.

Paul Pogba was the key figure in the recovery, netting twice before Chris Smalling’s winner, and was also in the spotlight heading into the derby. 

 

Guardiola dropped a pre-match bombshell by claiming that Man Utd midfielder Pogba had been offered to Man City in January that year. 

Pogba also returned from international duty with flashes of France blue in his hair, perhaps not the wisest choice of hairstyle by the time the derby arrived given the narrative around him going into the match. 

Man City only had to wait another week to be confirmed as champions after Man Utd suffered a shock 1-0 home defeat against West Bromwich Albion. 

But Man Utd could at least take some consolation from denying Man City the chance to brag about sealing the title against their big rivals.

Foden and Haaland fire in hat-tricks - October 2022

Man City have comfortably had the better of this rivalry in recent years and their superiority could not have been clearer than when they embarrassed Man Utd 6-3 in a mismatch of a Manchester derby.

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After responding to losing their first two Premier League matches under Erik ten Hag with four successive league wins, United received a painful reality check at the Etihad as they were brought crashing back down to earth.

Man City were 4-0 up at half-time thanks to Phil Foden and Erling Haaland doubles.

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They each scored again in the second half as Man City became only the third side in Premier League history to have two players score hat-tricks in the same match. 

Two late goals for Man Utd gave the scoreline a flattering look from their perspective but there was no escaping the gulf between the two sides.

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