Chapter 529: Is Destiny with Manchester United?
On the evening of January 9, 2018, at 7:45 PM GMT, the first leg of the League Cup semi-final of the season kicked off at the Etihad Stadium, with Manchester City hosting Manchester United.
This was the second meeting between the two sides in a month. With both teams clashing in the League Cup semi-final, it guaranteed at least four Manchester derbies this season. For the fans, this was fantastic news since both teams were among the best in the world, making every match between them a football feast.
Both teams fielded their strongest line-ups, as this was not only a semi-final but also a chance to claim a trophy. Neither side wanted to lose a derby match, especially City, who had lost five consecutive Manchester derbies and could not afford another defeat.
The game started with City launching a fierce offensive against United, buoyed by the support of over 50,000 home fans at the Etihad. United found themselves under immense pressure, struggling to counter City's relentless attacks.
However, football can be unpredictable. Despite being on the back foot, it was United who scored first. In the 33rd minute, Luke Shaw's cross from the left was cleared by Zinchenko, but the ball fell to Bruno Fernandes, who struck a powerful shot to break the deadlock.
This goal shook City, who continued their aggressive attack, hoping to equalize before halftime. In the 44th minute, City's center-back Mangala lost the ball in his own half. Gündoğan intercepted and passed to Harry Kane, who was brought down by John Stones, resulting in a penalty. Bruno stepped up and converted it, making it 2-0 to United with a brace.
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City were shell-shocked, trailing by two goals at halftime despite dominating the match statistically. Every attack looked promising, yet they found themselves two goals down. The City players were dazed, questioning if United, or specifically Bruno, was their kryptonite.
Had it not been for the halftime break, City might have conceded more goals given their state. The break provided a much-needed respite, preventing a complete collapse.
In the second half, City resumed their attack, having no choice but to go all-out. United, meanwhile, relied on counter-attacks to keep City at bay. Matching City in ball possession was a daunting task for United.
In the 51st minute, City's summer signing Bernardo Silva initiated a counter-attack. Sterling slipped into the box, but his shot was saved by Romero. Four minutes later, De Bruyne received the ball from Sterling and scored, bringing City back to 2-1.
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City's spirits were lifted by the goal, and they intensified their offensive. Guardiola made substitutions, bringing on Agüero and Kyle Walker. Mourinho responded by introducing defensive players Fellaini, Herrera, and Lindelof, switching to a 5-4-1 formation to hold onto their lead.
City's persistence paid off in stoppage time when Bernardo Silva's cross found Agüero, who headed home the equalizer. The match ended 2-2, maintaining some suspense for the second leg of the semi-final.
With this match, United's grueling Christmas schedule came to a brief halt. Their next match was six days later, providing a rare week-long break. Since the international break in mid-November, United had played 16 matches in 52 days, averaging one game every three days.
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The week-long rest revitalized United, and they returned to Premier League action in top form. On January 15, United hosted Stoke City and won 3-0, with goals from Valencia, Mbappé, and Kane, with Bruno providing two assists.
A day earlier, Liverpool had defeated City 4-3 at Anfield, extending United's lead to 10 points at the top of the table. British media widely declared the Premier League title race virtually decided, given United's dominant form, having won 23 consecutive league matches.
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United's winning streak continued. On January 20, United visited Burnley. With a crucial League Cup semi-final second leg against City coming up, Mourinho heavily rotated his squad. Burnley, who nearly upset United on Boxing Day, once again looked capable of ending United's streak.
The score remained 0-0 until the 80th minute. Mourinho had already brought on Bruno, Mbappé, and Kane, but Burnley's defense, the fourth-best in the league, held firm. They even threatened United with quick counter-attacks, though their forwards failed to capitalize.
In the 84th minute, Bruno passed to Kane on the right, who crossed to Mbappé. The Frenchman scored from 12 yards out, sealing a 1-0 victory for United and extending their winning streak to 25 matches.
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City, despite their 3-1 win over Newcastle, were left despairing, trailing United by 10 points with fewer games remaining. In response, City's management shifted their focus to cup competitions, although they did not abandon the league. Their squad depth allowed them to field strong teams in both competitions.
The League Cup was their immediate target. Despite a draw in the first leg, City remained optimistic about their chances. The absence of the away goals rule meant a draw at Old Trafford could lead to extra time and possibly a win.
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The January transfer window brought significant moves in European football. On January 6, Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho finally fulfilled his dream of joining Barcelona for €120 million, with add-ons potentially rising to €160 million. Coutinho even contributed €10 million of his own money to facilitate the transfer.
With the funds from Coutinho's sale, Liverpool signed Senegalese center-back Kalidou Koulibaly from Napoli for £75 million. This disrupted Napoli's title challenge, with Mane reportedly playing a key role in convincing Koulibaly.
Other big six teams also made significant signings. City bought center-back Aymeric Laporte from Athletic Bilbao for €57 million. Arsenal replaced Theo Walcott with Dortmund's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for €56 million. Tottenham signed Lucas Moura from PSG for €25 million.
Only United and Chelsea remained relatively quiet in the transfer market.
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