Manchester United’s defeat to Manchester City was another bleak result for the Red Devils – but did feature a special moment.
There has not been a lot of positivity about Manchester United’s performance at The Etihad. Understandably so.
But perhaps surprisingly, on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football, there was actually some praise for the Red Devils, or specifically, one moment.
You can probably predict which one it is. After all, Manchester United only had one good moment against City, and scored from it.
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Thierry Henry praises Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes
Premier League legend Thierry Henry was on Sky Sports to lend his analysis and he only had good words to say about United’s opener.
He praised the quality of Marcus Rashford‘s unstoppable shot – but also reserved the most praise for Bruno Fernandes, for the way he showed patience to set the goal up.
Henry said: “Bruno Fernandes, and I know that the strike of Rashford is magnificent, but you will see on the replay, Bruno Fernandes is telling Rashford, ‘Look, I am going to put that on the platter for you. Wait, I will hold, I will hold, and I will give you a ball for you to strike’.
“Not like a hard ball for a one-two, no, and I know people will tell me, that’s obvious. But, no, not a lot of people do that. He put that on the platter for him. And what a strike.”
Familiar defeat for Manchester United
Manchester United’s last three visits to Manchester City have all resulted in one-sided losses.
The 3-1 defeat on Sunday was preceded by a 6-3 reverse last season, and a 4-1 loss in 2022.
In each of these games United actually scored a very impressive goal, with Antony and Jadon Sancho curling in impressive efforts in the preceding years, before Marcus Rashford‘s thunderbolt this time around.
But until United are able to keep clean sheets at the other end, these moments of magic will ultimately count for nothing.
Just like the Sancho and Antony goals have faded from memory for most, Rashford’s will too. It only matters when you win.
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