Chapter 33: Manchester derby (cont.)

The match was kicked off after Bruno lost the right to kick off to Manchester City captain Ilkay Gundogan, the match started with a direct attack from Man City trying to catch us off balance and sneak in a goal with a full press out from their whole team and they were almost successful with gundogan playing in a through pass to haaland who unfortunately ran ahead of the ball but with a quick mind flicked it back to de bruyne who plays it to the path of Silva in the box who tries to whip a cross into the path of grealish but de gea got his fingertips to it to destroy the accuracy and dalot was quick to clear. What a quick one from Man City, unlucky not to score there.

The blue moon remained in control of the game and fancied themselves another chance in just the seventh minute of the game this time from a set piece with a well placed cross from de bruyne almost headed in by rodri but thanks to quick reflex from the golden hand de gea who parried it out for a corner kick.

The resulting corner kick was resolved by Skrinar and gotten under the control of Manchester United by Bruno and a quick pass to find Sancho to initiate a counter attack was over hit and requisitioned by Bernardo Silva and passed back to Ederson

The game went on with Man City majorly controlling possession but Man Utd seems to have gotten themselves back into the game and running around the Man City players with Fred in particular following de bruyne around like a little fan.

At the 22nd minute of the game, Man Utd created a good chance with some sublime quick passes upfront before Bruno Fernandes switched play to the right and was gotten under the control of dalot who looked to run down the flank having space to gallop into after Sancho took Ake in, grealish came running after him and forced him to a stop who after some step over lobbed in a cross that went unanswered by any in the box before it was stopped by shaw in the other side, he then passed to Fred when Silva pressured him who lays it to Gravenberch before the latter played an over the top ball into the feet of Rashford who dunked Ake with his first touch and a quick shot from his weak foot because of pressure from dias was weak and saved by Ederson, good play all round from Man Utd until the finish.

There were a lot of back and forth in the game with both teams testing the opposition keeper but Man City got in front firstdue to an error in communication among the centre back where a counter attack after a corner kick from Man Utd had a three on three situation and others chasing back or after, de bruyne was about to shoot the ball but the two defenders ran out of the box to stop him and he was quick to pass it to gundogan who has lost his marker who squared it to Bernardo Silva to tap it in. Break through at last 1-0 at the dying minutes of the first half, such bad luck to Man Utd seems they would be starting the second half with a goal deficit.

The match went on after the wide celebration from the blue moons and the red devils made their intent to remove the deficit before the break known by pressing all out to attack and God were they so close to doing that.

The attempt originated from a moment of brilliance from rashford who spiked stones and after riding cristiano's style bicycle went for a quick shot into the bottom corner and Ederson was only able to look on due to the shot suddenness and power but the nice goal was denied by the post.

After that the referee blowed a short and a long whistles signalling the end of the first half.

In the dressing room, there was silence and the only sound heavy breathing from the players who looked unwilling, the gaffer came in and saw this and went on his motivational speech,

"well I'm happy to see you all being upset about the status quo and while weve been able to keep up with the standards expected in a match like this it is unfortunate that the only time we got switched off, we were punished".

"Fred can you tell me why you decided to hoist the ball back into the opposition box after the corner rebound came to you fully knowing there are few people behind you defending".

" A lot of people are expecting us to lose this game so that they can add us to the example that spending a lot of money doesn't translate to winning game like outrival, do you want to be known as a mercenary like a certain blue club or do you want to write your own legend like another blue club is doing now, think about it and let me see your response on the pitch, there won't be any changes in tactics". He said and left the locker room.

Casemiro was quick to stand up and talk after the coach left, "most seems to belief I only came to this club to get paid pension and that I'm no longer the lion I once was and I'm more like an over fed kitten and the only way I know tonshut them up is slapping them with good results and trophies, in the 4 yeas I signed with the club I plan on winning a lot of trophies most especially at least one prem and a champions league and I can see the same ambition in the club owners so I'm going out there to fight". He said and sat down to lace his shoes.

Bruno too said "well for a player with an ambition to be one of the best my trophy room is to empty and I plan on changing that. Okay everyone, let's go out there and kick asses". He then made rallying call and they all went out.

After that the match was kicked off again this time by Manchester United