They thought they can score us first and win the match but we showed them that this is Etihad,you can’t win us in our Home’: Man city Star Phil foden says He could have scored Hattrick today if not for ONE Man United player that stopped him
As the match approached its crucial 90th minute mark, tension mounted as indicated by the board displaying additional time. There seemed to be a reasonable argument for extending it to eight minutes, considering the instances of time-wasting and numerous substitutions that had occurred. However, despite Manchester City’s dominance, they hadn’t secured a comfortable lead, reminiscent of a previous occasion when Liverpool dramatically altered the course of the title race with late heroics.
Pep Guardiola, urging for more time, saw his request granted as Rodri capitalized on Manchester United’s sloppy play, setting up Erling Haaland for the third goal. The Norwegian’s celebration, invoking the Poznan, coupled with the crowd’s fervor, effectively erased any earlier apprehensions, with Liverpool’s position now squarely in City’s sights.
Adding to the jubilation was the fact that City’s ability to celebrate with such elation and relief was largely attributable to one of their own, Phil Foden. His performance not only salvaged City from a rocky start but also propelled them into the lead. Foden’s energy was boundless, even compelling a late clearance by United’s Antony, prompting an ecstatic reaction from the crowd.
Guardiola could only express his admiration with applause, acknowledging Foden’s pivotal role in turning the tide and keeping City’s momentum intact.
City entered the game boasting an impressive unbeaten streak, both overall (19 games) and at the Etihad (16 months), with their last home defeat dating back to November 2022. However, despite their dominance, they faced setbacks against formidable opponents like Liverpool, Spurs, and Chelsea in recent encounters.
March had been earmarked as a pivotal month, where City’s true mettle would be tested against stronger opposition. However, nobody anticipated United to be a significant benchmark. Yet, against all odds, City found themselves trailing at halftime despite their dominance, with Marcus Rashford’s early strike stunning the crowd.
The first half saw City controlling possession but failing to convert their chances, with notable misses from players like Haaland and De Bruyne. The unexpected turn of events underscored the unpredictable nature of football, with United’s early goal and defensive resilience disrupting City’s rhythm and expectations.