Manchester City cruise against Manchester United exposes gulf in class

MANCHESTER: Manchester City once feared a trip to Old Trafford but painted the town blue once more with a 3-0 victory over a demoralised United on Sunday (Oct 29) to reassert their dominance.

A double from Erling Haaland before Phil Foden tapped home a third took Pep Guardiola's men nine points clear of United just 10 games into the Premier League season.

Not since United last won the league in Alex Ferguson's final season in charge, in 2012/13, have the Red Devils finished above their local rivals.

That run looks destined to go on for another season, with the clubs worlds apart on and off the pitch.

The travelling City support taunted the home fans with chants expressing the hope that United's unpopular owners, the Glazer family, would remain for "10 more years".

Initial optimism among the United fanbase that the Americans would sell the club they have controlled since 2005 looks likely to have been misplaced, with British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe set to settle for a minority stake after a year of negotiations.

United's demise under the Glazers has coincided with the rise of City as the dominant force in English football, thanks to backing from Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Mansour.

But money is not the only reason for the disparity in the performances of both clubs.

United have outspent City in the transfer market in recent years but have wasted millions in the process.

Despite his side's struggles to score goals this season, United boss Erik ten Hag left expensive attacking talent in Antony and Mason Mount on the bench on Sunday.

By contrast, City have a slick operation behind the scenes to match their football.

Guardiola cut short his successful managerial spells at Barcelona and Bayern Munich but is now into his eighth season at the