beIN SPORTS

By Graham Ruthven (@grahamruthven)

And so a marker has been put down. Profound meaning was always likely to be drawn from the first Manchester derby of the season and it certainly proved to be the case as City claimed a 2-1 win over rivals United at Old Trafford. Although it wasn’t so much City versus United as Pep Guardiola versus Jose Mourinho.

At least that was the predominant narrative in the build-up to the clash. This was the resumption of a personal rivalry that had been hiatus for four years, with Guardiola and Mourinho meeting in a domestic fixture for the first time since they were Clasico counterparts. 

But with few flash-points between the two men on the touchline it was reiterated how these two men, first and foremost, are soccer coaches. They are in the business of coaching soccer teams and Saturday underlined that, with Guardiola showcasing just why so many consider him the higher caliber of the two. 

Indeed, City provided their clearest demonstration of what Guardiola is teaching at the Etihad Stadium, dominating the opening 40 minutes against United. It’s little wonder the visitors weren’t further out of sight by the time Zlatan Ibrahimovic grabbed a lifeline for the hosts just before the half-time interval.

United couldn’t live with City for large swathes of the contest, with Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva the difference-makers. Much of this was down to the tactical mistakes Mourinho made from the start, with United altering their system and adapting at the break, but it was also a result of Guardiola’s ideology and everything it demands from those who adopt it. 

Only three points were at stake on Sunday, but this derby result could set the tone for the season ahead. At this stage City appear to be at a more advanced stage of their development and now the chased, with United the chasers. That dynamic has now been forged and it will take something drastic for that to be re-shaped. 

Of course, United are still very much a contender at the top of the Premier League table. Mourinho will have learned a lot from his team, and even about himself. The Portuguese coach got his starting lineup badly wrong, only recognising his errors at half-time, but that knowledge and experience will stand him in good stead as United’s duel with City continues over this season and seasons to come.

There is still plenty for Guardiola and City to work on as well. They visitors were impressive, but this wasn’t a performance reminiscent of Barcelona at their best. City lost their grip in the second half, allowing United to come back into the contest. Guardiola was unhappy with the way his team dropped deeper and deeper in the face of pressure and will surely demand improved composure from his central defence in the future. John Stones made one too many panicked clearances for the Catalan’s liking.

Then there was the new debut of Claudio Bravo. The Chilean goalkeeper was at fault for Ibrahimovic’s goal, clumsily dropping a cross under pressure at the feet of the Swedish striker. Just like his opposite number on Sunday David De Gea, Bravo will take time to adapt to the physical nature of the Premier League, but it wasn’t just the rough and tumble he struggled with.

Bravo was signed on the basis of his technical ability on the ball, but he very nearly played his side into trouble on a number of occasions against United. English soccer doesn’t afford goalkeepers the same time in possession as the Spanish game does. Both Bravo and Guardiola will find that out soon enough if they haven’t already.

There were lessons to be learned on both sides, albeit a few more on side than the other, but Sunday’s derby provided a preview of what to expect from the season ahead. City have the upper hand, with United now expected to respond. The tone has been set.