So that’s your lot. A reminder that David Hytner was on point at the Etihad tonight, and here’s his report. Congratulations to Manchester City, commiserations to Manchester United. Looking forward to the final already. Thanks for reading this MBM. Nighty night!
A visibly irritated Solskjaer gives his verdict on the dismissal of Matic. “It is hard to go here and score a goal with 11, never mind ten. It was never a sending off, absolutely a joke. It’s ironic that he gets a yellow on his first foul, almost gets a yellow on his second foul which isn’t even a foul, and yeah the last one is a yellow. But how many times did they foul us? How many times was Dan James fouled? In the first half, Jesse? That’s the first question you have asked and it shouldn’t be like this because I am so proud of my players. They have beaten City twice in six weeks at their place. We’ve come so far with these boys and we have given absolutely everything. They’ve come a long way, they’ve developed.”
Pep’s verdict. “We played really well, in both games, and were fantastic. We conceded a goal the first time they shot on target, one set piece, we were unlucky. We created enough chances to score many goals, but we didn’t convert, we have to be more clinical. We have to score goals. But I was not concerned, I was incredibly happy. We played really well.” Were you pleased with it? “A lot. In 180 minutes, we were better than United. We are incredibly happy to go to Wembley again for our third final in a row. So that means when people say we are complacent, relaxed after success ... you can be distracted but it didn’t happen.”
Hot managerial chat coming up soon! In the meantime, David Hytner’s verdict has landed, and here it is.
Kevin De Bruyne speaks. “I can’t really comprehend how we lost this game. For me, United had only one chance today. In front we were way too wasteful, and we have to learn from this. But in the end it’s good that we go into the final. Now we are going to fight to win the cup.”
Ilkay Gundogan adds: “We started well but after United scored we were a bit sloppy and lost some balls unnecessarily. We should have scored at least one or two goals today, but it was not meant to be. But obviously we are very happy to go to another final. And it is a learning process for the Real Madrid games.”
Neither of them looked particularly happy. Manchester City’s relentless professionalism and never-ending pursuit of perfection, right there!
City celebrate not so much in giddy happiness but relief. United by contrast look thoroughly gutted, having come closer than most expected to forcing this semi-final to penalties. Harry Maguire in particular is a picture of misery. But United should be proud of their efforts tonight, and once the pain of winning the battle but losing the war subsides, they’ll reflect on an evening of precious positivity as the Solskjaer rebuild continues. Meanwhile City can look forward to yet another cup final; they’ll be hot favourites to make it three League Cups in a row against Aston Villa. Though it’s not all good news for them tonight: Liverpool have won 2-0 at West Ham United, thanks to a first-half penalty from Mohamed Salah and a second-half Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain goal. They’re now 19 points clear at the top of the Premier League.
FULL TIME: Manchester City 0-1 Manchester United (agg: 3-2)
Nope. There’s just enough time for a pitch invasion by a six-year-old. He’s ushered off, and the referee blows for time. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer warmly congratulates his opposite number Pep Guardiola. His team did him proud tonight, but this tie was lost in the first 30 minutes at Old Trafford. City stumble over the line, and they’ll face Aston Villa at Wembley on March 1!
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90 min +4: Jesus meanders down the left and draws a foul from a frustrated Wan-Bissaka, who is booked. City take the free kick short, but in trying to hold it by the corner flag, run it out for a goal kick. Can United launch one last hail-Mary attack?
90 min +3: Sergio Aguero is replaced by Gabriel Jesus. That clock ticks on.
90 min +2: James crosses deep from the right. Maguire, at the far post, would have to be ten feet tall to meet it. Goal kick.
90 min +1: The first of four added minutes flies by for United without incident.
90 min: City go into lockdown, replacing Kevin De Bruyne with John Stones.
89 min: Walker creams a pass down the middle. With everyone in red upfield, Bernardo Silva is sent clear! But as he scampers goalward, the whistle goes. Turns out at the start of the move, Mata took a throw-in with one foot off the ground. Foul throw. City are beyond furious, the decision has done them no favours whatsoever.
88 min: Fred blooters a witless free kick into the wall. As City skelp clear, the home fans cheer as loudly as they would for a goal.
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87 min: There really was no need for that challenge, Maguire was going nowhere. Otamendi deservedly goes in the book, and is bollocked by De Bruyne as well. Why?!?
86 min: United pass and probe, looking for a way through. Suddenly Otamendi races out from the back and clatters into Maguire. What a buffoonish challenge. And this is a free kick in a central position, just outside the D.
84 min: City look to have clinched it as Cancelo slips a perfectly weighted pass down the inside left, teeing up Aguero to flick past De Gea and into the bottom right in the insouciant style. But the flag goes up for offside. About an inch in it, but the correct decision.
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83 min: On the touchline, Pep bollocks his players with the burning intensity of a thousand suns. He’s far from happy at his team’s performance tonight. Nevertheless, they’re still a mere ten minutes away from yet another League Cup final.
82 min: Walker’s up again, and fine to continue.
81 min: But the nerves haven’t gone away totally. Walker and Otamendi clatter into each other as they deal with a ball bouncing down the United left, one that Martial was never going to get. Walker’s taken a sore one there. On comes the physio.
80 min: City make use of their extra man, stroking the ball around the back, letting the clock do its thing.
79 min: But United still have to go for it in attack, with time running out. With this in mind, Luke Shaw is replaced by Juan Mata.
78 min: Aguero spins on the edge of the box. Shaw blocks him. The ball breaks to Gundogan, who lashes over the bar from distance. Panic in the United ranks there, as they reel from Matic’s dismissal.
RED CARD: Matic (Manchester United)
76 min: United overplay near the City box. Fred gives the ball away to De Bruyne, who slides a pass towards Bernardo Silva on the right. Matic steps across Silva cynically to put a stop to the counter. He’s already been booked, and the referee has no choice. Off he goes, from goalscoring hero to zero.
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75 min: Some United possession in the City half now. The nerves beginning to jangle, the crowd whistling with concern. But ...
73 min: City must be wondering whether a place in the final is simply not to be. Maguire plays a godawful pass in his own area, clumping it straight at Aguero. The ball breaks to David Silva, who has to score. But instead of shooting from six yards, he tees up his namesake Bernardo instead, allowing Maguire time to close him down and redeem himself. Then they come again, Aguero shooting into the side netting when set free down the left. How have City not scored there?
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72 min: Gundogan tries to open up United with a cute chip down the inside right. The ball flies straight out for a goal kick.
71 min: Gundogan and Sterling combine neatly down the left and win a corner of Wan-Bissaka. It’s City’s eighth of the game; United haven’t had one yet. De Gea fists it clear. Walker, from a mile out, returns a rising missile. What a shot, screaming towards the top left. But it’s too close to De Gea, who is able to punch away spectacularly.
69 min: David Silva nearly has an immediate assist, slipping the ball down the inside left channel for Sterling. But again Sterling can’t get a shot away. Aguero has a go. Nope. Then Lindelof needlessly concedes a corner with a panicked header under no pressure whatsoever, but City do nothing with it. The home side are dominating possession now, but they’ve not forced De Gea into a serious save in this second half yet.
68 min: Riyad Mahrez is replaced by David Silva, who has been sent on to regain a semblance of control for City.
67 min: Mahrez dribbles hard at Shaw down the right. He enters the area and tries to flick De Bruyne clear with a backheel, but the tricks aren’t coming off right now.
65 min: Fred drives City back. He slips the ball wide for Martial, who blazes wildly into the stand. No control or precision whatsoever. He cocks his head back in misery. Then United make their second change, replacing Jesse Lingard with Andreas Pereira.
64 min: Sterling and Gundogan combine well down the left. The ball’s slipped forward to Bernardo, who clumsily miscontrols, allowing Lindelof to shepherd the ball out of play for a goal kick.
62 min: A reminder that, should United find a second and level the scoreline, this tie would go straight to penalties. No away-goal rule, no extra time.
61 min: After an extremely wobbly start to the half, City are beginning to find their feet again. A period of possession in the middle of the park to settle the nerves.
60 min: City’s fans find their voice, hoping to drive their team on. Sterling dribbles hard down the left but can’t get a shot away. Then De Bruyne has a go, but his low cross-cum-shot is easily gathered by De Gea.
58 min: City should have turned the tide here. De Bruyne slips Sterling clear down the inside left. He should slip the ball past De Gea when he enters the area, but hesitates and allows Lindelof to get in the road. Sterling shifts the ball inside, going past one man, then another ... and then he blasts wildly over the bar. Still no goal for Sterling against United. City are still in the lead, but they may be beginning to wonder.
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57 min: De Bruyne’s radar goes haywire. De Bruyne’s radar never goes haywire. A scooped forward pass softly lands in De Gea’s arms, nowhere near a sky-blue shirt. Then Rodri is booked for a panicked tug on Lingard, who was threatening to tear down the right wing. City are rocking a little. The crowd are audibly anxious.
55 min: Another loose City pass, straight into touch. The home side are extremely nervous, their fans a little jittery. They need something to happen, because United have the wind in their sail right now. Levelling the tie is far from a pipe dream.
54 min: Martial has a whistle from the best part of 30 yards. Easy meat for Bravo. But United are getting a few chances now.
53 min: The referee tells United captain Maguire that Matic is tip-toeing along the old disciplinary tightrope, having now fouled Aguero unnecessarily. One more and he might be off. Mahrez takes the resulting free kick, out on the left, and makes a mess of it, sending the ball harmlessly out of play for a goal kick.
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52 min: The City fans complain a little, though, as their team send simple passes into touch twice in the space of 30 seconds. On the touchline, Pep encourages his players to calm down. They look a little edgy at the moment.
51 min: Matic is booked for a needless clip on Mahrez in the midfield. He doesn’t bother complaining about it.
50 min: United are visibly more confident in this second half. A complete contrast to the first half-hour of City dominance. Plenty of nervous energy in the Etihad.
49 min: Fred swings it towards the far post. Maguire rises above Cancelo, six yards out, and should at least get his header on target. He should score, really. But his effort flies over the bar. Big chance.
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48 min: Matic creams a pass down the right for James to chase. James has the legs to beat Cancelo, so the City left-back shoves him over. A free kick in a dangerous position just to the right of the City box.
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47 min: Cancelo goes on a storming run down the left, but can’t quite find Aguero with his low pass infield. Then De Bruyne flicks a pass down the right and nearly releases Mahrez, but Maguire is quickly across to cover.
City get the second half underway. The visitors have made one half-time change, replacing Mason Greenwood with Dan James. Greenwood apparently took a knock in the first half, though he was also fairly anonymous.
Half-time entertainment.
HALF TIME: Manchester City 0-1 Manchester United (agg: 3-2)
A poor Lindelof backpass nearly lets in Aguero. De Gea does enough, racing out of his box and block-tackling Aguero. The ball pings out for a goal kick. And that’s the end of the first half. City were by far the better side for the first 35 minutes, but then Nemanja Matic scored, and now we’ve got ourselves a cup tie.
45 min: Sterling has a whack after cutting in from the left. The rising shot hits Lindelof on the upper arm. Sterling wants a penalty, but the defender had no time to react, and his arm was right by his body in any case, in a natural position. The referee waves play on.
43 min: City have the ball in the net, the result of a sweet flowing move from right to left involving Bernardo, Mahrez, Aguero and De Bruyne. The latter rolls a ball infield for Sterling to slap home from six yards. But there’s to be no first goal against United for Sterling. He’s gone a split second too early, Lindelof holding his position bravely. The flag goes up correctly for offside.
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41 min: Silva nearly settles their nerves, dribbling dangerously down the right, past Shaw and into the box. He rolls a pass across the face of goal. A toe-poke would do it, but Aguero is uncharacteristically on the back foot. United were opened up there.
39 min: De Bruyne rolls a pass towards Sterling on the left. The ball’s travelling at 1mph. Sterling lets it trundle slowly under his boot and out for a throw. City and their followers are suddenly a bag of nerves. They need to settle quickly.
37 min: City have been the better side. But United have held firm at the back, and now look. Suddenly the Etihad is a very nervous place. Bravo hesitates over a simple clearance and is nearly closed down by Greenwood. A collective sharp intake of breath, but the keeper clears eventually.
GOAL! Manchester City 0-1 Manchester United (Matic agg: 3-2)
Fred curls the free kick in from the left. Silva can only eyebrow a clearing header towards Matic, level with the right-hand post, just inside the box. Matic meets the dropping ball first time, and sweeps a glorious shot into the bottom right! Bravo had no chance, and this semi-final is back on!
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34 min: Rodri comes sliding in on Lingard as he races down the left. He clips him, and is slightly fortunate not to go in the book. Just a free kick. From which ...
33 min: City have had nine efforts to United’s zero, and 69% of possession. But look at the scoreline. United will be happy enough so far. More of this, and City may get frustrated. And then if United were to somehow nick a goal, the nerves may kick in. On the touchline, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks relaxed enough.
32 min: Otamendi, accidentally or otherwise, gave De Gea a wee nudge in the ribs there. The keeper also landed painfully on his boot when the pair fell. A sore one, but he’s a big man and is soon up and about again, fine to continue.
30 min: De Bruyne clips a pass down the inside-left channel to release Sterling, who should get a shot away upon reaching the box, but hesitates, allowing Maguire to slide in. The resulting corner ends in a free kick to United, with Otamendi and De Gea falling in a tangle. The keeper’s landed awkwardly, and looks in some pain. On comes the physio.
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29 min: Fred loops it towards the far post. Matic tries to meet the high ball, but falls over under a pincer movement launched by Rodri and Cancelo. He wants a penalty but it’s shoulder to shoulder to shoulder and he’s not getting it.
28 min: Lingard drifts in from the left and pings a pass to Greenwood, who is clumped from behind by Otamendi. A free kick to the left of centre, 35 yards out. Everyone lines up on the edge of the box, waiting for Fred’s delivery.
26 min: Walker sprays a long pass down the right. Walker springs the offside trap and whips a cross towards Aguero, who is denied a close-range header by the presence of Lingard. The resulting corner comes to nought.
24 min: City are playing with the patience and confidence you’d expect from a superior team two goals to the good. Pass, pass, passity pass. Suddenly they spring forward en masse, Silva and Aguero combining before teeing up De Bruyne just to the left of the D. De Bruyne looks for the top left, but his fierce rising shot is a wee bit too high.
22 min: City stroke it around the middle of the park, re-establishing control.
20 min: Some good work by Williams down the inside-left channel, as City are pushed back a little. His attempt to work a cute, crisp move with Shaw and Lingard doesn’t quite come off, but full marks for ambition.
19 min: Mahrez fires it long down the middle, but his pass is too meaty for Aguero. City are happy to mix it up. United don’t look comfortable in defence, whatever they do.
17 min: Upon taking the corner, City ping it around awhile. Eventually Sterling peels off down the left and looks like bursting clear into the box. But he runs it out of play with a heavy touch. A wry smile as he picks himself up.
16 min: Gundogan, Silva and Aguero shuttle the ball upfield at speed. Suddenly Aguero is drifting left to right, across the face of the box. He launches towards the top right. De Gea claws it out for a corner.
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14 min: Fred spins out of trouble in United’s final third and suddenly there’s a lot of space to work with, City’s press beaten. First Wan-Bissaka nearly breaks clear down the right, then Williams crosses from the left, only just failing to find Martial in the middle. Some hope for United; all they need to do is beat City’s press. All they need to do!
13 min: Sterling whips in low from the left. Aguero nearly gets a toe to the cross but misses it by an inch and the ball sticks to De Gea.
12 min: United spend a little time in the City half. They don’t really go anywhere but that’s not the point of the endeavour. It’s their first prolonged period away from their own third.
10 min: VAR isn’t interested. It’s just a corner. The fact that Maguire slipped clumsily might have swayed the decision, but it’s VAR, so who knows. The corner comes to nothing.
9 min: De Bruyne crosses from the left. Under the ball, Sterling wants a penalty kick as he’s bowled over from behind by Maguire, who took him down while slipping. This is going to VAR.
8 min: Now De Gea is forced to kick a Mahrez snapshot clear. United are finding it difficult to get out of their final third. City have flooded the midfield and are all over them.
7 min: Bernardo, quarterbacking from deep on the left, floats a diagonal ball into the box. Aguero breaks clear of Shaw down the inside-right channel, guiding a header across De Gea and towards the bottom left. De Gea sticks out a strong arm to parry clear. Stunning save.
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5 min: City are beginning to find their groove. Rodri has a whack from distance. It’s charged down and half cleared. City come straight back at United. De Bruyne nearly breaks through down the middle. Bernardo then overhits a pass that would have released Sterling down the left.
3 min: Wan-Bissaka launches long. The ball bounces off Martial’s chest. Poor control. Had he taken that down, he had Greenwood to his left, ready to assist in attack, with City light at the back.
2 min: All a bit frantic in the opening stages. A poor clearing header by Maguire gives De Bruyne the chance to scoop a pass down the middle with the view of releasing Aguero, but Matic reads the play well to intercept and clear United’s lines properly this time.
Here we go, then! A quick blast of Blue Moon, then United get the ball rolling in front of a full house at the Etihad. A derby-day roar. The semi-final is happening!
Here come the teams! City wear their famous sky blue shirts, United sport their legendary red. The home fans enjoy their usual pre-match singalong of Hey Jude. We’ll be off in a minute or two!
Pep talks! He looks extremely relaxed in contrast to his slightly more edgy opposite number. “We have 2-0. They have to play the game to score goals. But we are going to try to score goals and play our game.”
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer speaks. First on the Bruno Fernandes transfer: “We’ve agreed with the club so we can hopefully announce it very soon. That’s of course exciting.” Then last night’s attack on Ed Woodward’s house: “Everyone at the club and proper supporters were disgusted with what had happened. Fans can be passionate and opinions can be voiced in different ways. We’ve got to stick together and stay united.” And finally on tonight’s upcoming spat: “We need to score two more goals than them! We’ve done it before. We need to match our performance six weeks ago. PSG away is always a good memory. But we need a proper performance with and without the ball. We will throw loads of energy at it.”
United have also announced the impending arrival of Bruno Fernandes. This is what they’re getting for their £47m, subject to a medical.
There are two differences to the side City put out in the first leg. Joao Cancelo and Sergio Aguero come in for Benjamin Mendy and Fernandinho.
United make four swaps from the first leg. Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Nemanja Matic and Anthony Martial come in for Daniel James, Andreas Pereira and Phil Jones, who drop to the bench, and the injured Marcus Rashford.
The teams
Manchester City: Bravo, Walker, Rodri, Otamendi, Joao Cancelo, De Bruyne, Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, Mahrez, Aguero, Sterling.
Subs: Stones, Gabriel Jesus, Zinchenko, Silva, Ederson, Foden, Garcia.
Manchester United: de Gea, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw, Wan Bissaka, Fred, Matic, Williams, Lingard, Greenwood, Martial.
Subs: Bailly, Jones, Mata, Andreas Pereira, Dalot, James, Romero.
Referee: Andre Marriner (West Midlands).
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Preamble
This may not be the greatest Manchester United side of all time, and Manchester City might look well in control of this tie. But if you believe in the spiritual - things like club DNA, that kind of stuff - this League Cup semi-final remains in the balance.
Pep Guardiola certainly thinks so: “It’s Manchester United. They can do it. They have done it.” Twice in the Champions League recently, in fact, coming back from two goals down to beat Olympiakos in 2014 under David Moyes, then repeating the trick against PSG last year with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at the wheel. Say what you will about the current state of United; they’re still a club who know how to turn around a cup tie.
There’s also the weird lop-sided nature of the Manchester derby to take into account. United have won their last two matches at City’s gaff, and three of the last five. City, who by contrast regularly turn United over at Old Trafford, have won just one of their last five derbies at home. The away side has won five of the last six. There’s no point trying to rationalise any of this. It is what it is.
So while United go into tonight’s second leg 3-1 down, and their chances on the face of things look slim, they’ll retain some hope. Then again, only Tranmere Rovers have ever let a two-goal League Cup semi-final lead slip, in 1994 against Aston Villa; City have won seven of their last eight matches in all competitions; and if Pep’s men turn it on like they did in the first half hour at Old Trafford, the holders will breeze their way to the final yet again.
Who will face Aston Villa in the Wembley final on March 1? City should finish the job, and are the hot bookies favourites. But in the Manchester derby, nothing’s ever certain. So good luck to the sky blues, good luck to the reds, and may the best team win. It’s on!
Kick off: 7.45pm GMT.
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