A match against the nearest opponent is the most designated and prestigious in terms of rivalry, domination, and satisfaction where Manchester City was the victim of Manchester United’s upper hand which could be described as a controversy in terms of citizens the meeting of a Premier League clash.
77' Man Utd 0-1 Man City
82' Man Utd 2-1 Man CityThe Manchester derby came alive 🤯
(via @NBCSportsSoccer)pic.twitter.com/qFSggjt64U
— B/R Football (@brfootball) January 14, 2023
Usually, a Saturday lunchtime kick-off on a pleasant winter day brings some charm to the fans, but the local derby brought one heck of a football game with huge upside criticism on a decision made by the officials.
It was Man city’s trip to Old Trafford and the first half of the game had seen a dismantle performance from the visitors but they picked up pace as soon as the second half got going which placed the blue side of Manchester taking a lead through the substitute Jack Grealish.
HAVE SOME OF THATTTTTT!!! 💙 @JackGrealish pic.twitter.com/Wr3JLs7ICW
— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) January 14, 2023
The reigning PL champion seemed to complete the double against Manchester United this season, but Pep Guardiola’s side was shocked by two quick-fire goals from Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford.
However, Bruno Fernandes’s goal was the talking point of the game he scored in a controversial way. In the 78th minute, Casemiro finds Rashford who was in an offside position but the English winger guarded the ball so long without touching it, stopping Akanji from reaching for it before Fernandes hit it with conviction and scored.
On the #UnitedMasterclass, we'll explain the offside law for those who say they don't understand it. At no point does Rashford either touch the ball, impede a defender or obstruct the GK line-of-sight.
This isn't a new interpretation of offside.#ManchesterDerby #MUNMCI #MUFC pic.twitter.com/gvxKmf1Fvn
— Rob Blanchette (@_Rob_B) January 15, 2023
“To be honest for me the first goal is a joke that it can be allowed like this,” Man City defender Akanji said.
Initially deemed as offside, VAR overturned the decision, and the goal stand even though a large protest from the Man City players and support staff.
⚽ Pep Guardiola was left fuming by the controversial VAR decision to allow a Bruno Fernandes goal that sparked Manchester United's thrilling fightback in their 2-1 win over Manchester City on Saturday.
Read more: https://t.co/tFxWVOkUJ4#AFPSport pic.twitter.com/li0vgJowVm— AFP News Agency (@AFP) January 14, 2023
“I see Rashford, he’s clearly offside so I play him offside. He runs to the last second and stops when the ball is right in front of him and right in front of Eddy [Ederson] to score the goal. Then he stops because Bruno is calling him because he’s not offside.”- Akanji further added.
“I understand he doesn’t touch the ball but he runs for 30 meters, he’s chasing the ball. It’s clearly offside.
“He runs really to the last second and he stops when the ball is in front of him”
“He runs for 30 metres, he’s chasing the ball”
Manuel Akanji provides a strong an argument as any for interference. #ManCity #MCFC
— Mike Minay (@MikeMinay) January 14, 2023
“Also the referee doesn’t even look at the situation. When it gets explained at the beginning of the year I thought it was clearly offside. In the end, it’s not offside.” – the Swiss international expressed his grievance.
The defeat to the local rival certainly pushed Man City further away from the title race and they will be desperate to back themselves into life and pull off a stunner performance when facing Spurs as the next assignment, forgetting the bitter memory of the past.
