Manchester city fans demand Pep Guardiola start one player every week after performance vs Man United

In the electric atmosphere of the Etihad Stadium, Manchester City delivered a masterclass in dominance, dismantling their crosstown rivals Manchester United with a clinical 3-0 victory on September 14, 2025.

The Manchester derby, always a cauldron of passion and rivalry, unfolded as a one-sided affair from the opening whistle, with City’s relentless pressing and surgical precision exposing United’s frailties under new manager Ruben Amorim.

This triumph wasn’t just another notch on Pep Guardiola’s belt; it served as a resounding statement of intent midway through the Premier League season, propelling City up to eighth place while leaving United languishing in 14th.

The game kicked off with City asserting control early, their possession hovering around 55% as they probed United’s defense with intricate passing patterns. Erling Haaland, the Norwegian goal machine, loomed large throughout, his physicality and movement constantly troubling United’s backline.

But it was the opening goal in the 18th minute that set the tone—a beautifully crafted move down the left flank culminated in a pinpoint cross that found the head of an unmarked forward, who rose highest to nod it past Andre Onana.

The stadium erupted, the blue half of Manchester sensing blood in the water. United, still adjusting to Amorim’s tactical tweaks after a rocky start to the campaign, struggled to string passes together, their midfield overrun by City’s high-energy duo of Rodri and Bernardo Silva.

As the first half wore on, City could have extended their lead multiple times, with Kevin De Bruyne’s visionary through-balls carving open gaps that United’s full-backs desperately tried to plug.

Amorim’s side, buoyed by a summer of promise but weighed down by inconsistent form, resorted to long balls in search of a counter, but City’s back three—bolstered by Nathan Ake’s composure—neutralized every threat. At the break, the scoreline flattered United; whispers in the stands suggested Guardiola’s men were merely toying with their prey, saving the killer blows for later.

The second half exploded into life just eight minutes in, as Haaland latched onto a deflected clearance and rifled a low drive into the bottom corner for 2-0.

The Etihad faithful, already buzzing from the opener, turned the volume up to deafening levels, their chants drowning out the away end’s feeble protests. United’s response was tepid—a few half-hearted forays forward that fizzled under pressure from City’s midfield enforcers. Amorim paced his technical area, gesturing furiously, but his substitutions failed to ignite any spark.

By the 68th minute, Haaland struck again, bundling home from close range after a scramble in the box, his brace sealing a performance that reaffirmed his status as the league’s most lethal finisher. Guardiola, ever the tactical maestro, sensed the game’s ebb and made shrewd changes, shifting to a more conservative shape to protect the lead while still threatening on the break.

It was in these closing stages that the narrative shifted from mere victory to fervent demand among the City faithful. As the final whistle blew, sealing a comprehensive derby demolition, the focus turned squarely to Phil Foden, the Stockport-born prodigy whose contributions had been pivotal in unlocking United’s stubborn setup.

Foden, starting in his favored central role, terrorized the opposition with his blend of vision, dribbling flair, and unyielding work rate—attributes that have long marked him as Guardiola’s heir apparent in the creative engine room.

His assist for the opener, a teasing delivery from the edge of the area, wasn’t just technically exquisite; it embodied the homegrown hunger that courses through City’s veins.

Post-match, as players circled the pitch in tribute to the late boxing legend Ricky Hatton—a City icon whose passing had cast a somber shadow over the day—Foden’s name echoed louder than any other. In interviews, he spoke humbly of the “extra bit” from the fans, crediting the collective spirit for the win, yet his on-field mastery spoke volumes.

Supporters, scrolling through highlight reels on their phones in the concourses, began voicing a unified plea: start Foden every week. Social media lit up with blue-tinted fervor, memes and threads proclaiming him the “derby destroyer reborn.” One viral clip captured his slaloming run in the 62nd minute, evading three challenges before teeing up a teammate—pure poetry that reignited memories of his breakout 2023-24 campaign.

This groundswell isn’t born of recency bias; Foden’s derby record now boasts a hat-trick and six goals across 10 Premier League appearances against United, a statistic that underscores his affinity for these high-stakes clashes.

Fans point to his versatility—able to drift wide, drop deep, or surge forward—as the antidote to City’s occasional midfield lethargy this season. Guardiola, in his presser, smiled enigmatically when pressed on rotations, praising Foden’s “hunger” but hinting at the squad’s depth. Yet the message from the terraces is clear: in an era of superstars, Foden represents the soul of City, the local lad who bleeds blue and delivers when it counts most.

As City gaze toward a congested fixture list—Champions League ties and domestic cups looming—this 3-0 rout feels like a reset button. United slink away to lick their wounds, their top-four dreams dented further, while Guardiola’s juggernaut rolls on. But amid the euphoria, one chant rises above the rest: “Foden every week.” It’s a demand laced with love, a call for consistency in a team that thrives on it.

If today’s display is any indication, heeding it could propel City back to the summit they once owned unchallenged. The Etihad faithful won’t settle for less—their patience, after all, is as thin as the Manchester fog rolling in.