Man United lost to City in the first Manchester derby of the season at the Etihad and here are how the players rated.
18:25, 14 Sep 2025Updated 18:31, 14 Sep 2025
Samuel joined the Manchester Evening News in 2014 and is the Chief Manchester United writer. He has broken exclusives on Jose Mourinho’s appointment, the re-signing of Cristiano Ronaldo, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s sacking, the club’s interest in Ralf Rangnick and Erik ten Hag, as well as numerous other transfers and team news. He has represented the MEN on the BBC, Sky News, Sky Sports News, TalkSport, Radio 5 Live, CNN and various other media outlets worldwide.
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United players react to going behind
Manchester United suffered defeat in the Manchester derby on Sunday as they lost 3-0 to Manchester City.
Phil Foden put the home side ahead on 18 minutes as he guided Jeremy Doku’s pull-back beyond Altay Bayindir.
Erling Haaland doubled his side’s lead shortly after the half time break and he nearly made it 3-0 moments later but somehow managed to hit the post with the goal gaping. Haaland ended the game as a contest midway through the second half as he raced clear of the United defence and slotted home.
Here are how the players rated at the Etihad Stadium:
Altay Bayindir
Had a jittery early moment when the ball almost got away from him. Shrank when Haaland bore down on him to make it 2-0. 5
Leny Yoro
More than kept up with Doku, who switched sides to create the opening goal. Came off for Harry Maguire to improve United’s goal threat. 6
Matthijs de Ligt
Battled competitively with Haaland until the Norwegian got between De Ligt and Luke Shaw to make it 2-0. A dodgy pass almost resulted in a goal. 5
Luke Shaw
Did okay in the first half but was made to look like the auxiliary centre back that he is when Haaland bulldozed past him. Sloppy for the third goal, too. 5
Noussair Mazraoui
A confident return on his first start since the Europa League final until he was found to be off the pace for the second goal. Substituted just after the hour. 6
Manuel Ugarte
A striking recall yet Ugarte was United’s best player in the first half and operated at a level that was the polar opposite of his 45 minutes at Grimsby. Unable to halt City’s second-half charge. 6
Bruno Fernandes
Guilty of failing to track the runner for another goal that United conceded three weeks after Emile Smith Rowe evaded him at Fulham. 5
Patrick Dorgu
Could have intercepted the switch of play which eventually led to Foden’s goal. Had chances to service Sesko but his crossing was abject. 4
Bryan Mbeumo
Had plenty of the ball without having any impact in the first half before he was denied by a great save by Gianluigi Donnarumma. 6
Amad
Played on the left of the two No.10s for probably the first time and miscued a volley. Nowhere near as influential as he was here last season. 5
Benjamin Sesko
Asked an early question of Donnarumma and had United’s only attempts at goal in the first half. Quieter in the second half. 6
Subs
Harry Maguire
Came on essentially to improve United’s goal threat. 5
Kobbie Mainoo
No impact. 5
Joshua Zirkzee
Same as Mainoo. 5
Casemiro
Replaced Ugarte to provide balance and missed a good chance. 5
Manager
Ugarte’s improved performance rendered Mainoo’s absence from the starting XI moot but Shaw and Fernandes in unfamiliar roles led to goals. 5