Premier League champions Manchester City have all but given up on successfully defending their title.
The Citizens lost the Manchester derby in their own backyard on Saturday and thereby fell 14 points behind log leaders Liverpool.
Heading into the game, Pep Guardiola's City held a nine-point lead over Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s manne.
But after 30 minutes of play at Eastlands, United were 2-0 up hitting their hosts on the counter.
Marcus Rashford opened the scoring after 23 minutes from the penalty spot to silence United’s noisy neighbours and Anthony Martial made it 2-0 six minutes later.
DAMAGE: Marcus Rashford. Picture: Phil Noble/Reuters.
City couldn’t cope the pace and directness of United’s attackers and never really looked like coming back into the game, with Kyle Walker’s appeal for a penalty not given.
Nicolas Otamendi headed an 88th-minute consolation goal, but City boss Guardiola won’t concede their crown to Liverpool just yet.
CONCERNED: Pep Guardiola. Picture: Peter Powell/EPA.
The Catalan says: “It doesn’t matter if we are 10 or 14 or 25 points behind – we must continue [to fight].
“If we are not able to [catch Liverpool], then we want to try next season.
“Sometimes you don’t win, the others are better, and you lose. The normal thing is not winning all the leagues and trophies.
“Sometimes you lose. The important thing is to not give up.
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— Manchester City (@ManCity)
“In all the games we have played this season, we have played how I want us to play. When we struggle – OK – but it’s part of the process, maybe next season we will be better.”