Sir Jim Ratcliffe's task at Manchester United is becoming clearer

Sir Jim Ratcliffe wasn't lying when he said he wanted Manchester United to be the best team in the world again; to have any hope of that, they must first become the best side in their own city again.

The harsh reality is that Manchester City are still streets ahead on the pitch, and it showed on Sunday afternoon through the two styles of play that were on display.

It is true that it would have been reckless had United tried to beat City at their own game, but the fact that it is widely accepted is the underlying problem itself and evidence of just how much work will need to be done.

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United embraced the underdog tag and were once again at their best when playing on the counter-attack, such are the creative limitations of their team. Erik ten Hag certainly deserves some sympathy given the injury issues he has had to cope with all season, but even when fully fit, their lack of control in matches is alarming.

In order to give them any hope, pragmatism was prioritised over positivity. Bruno Fernandes started as a false nine for only the second time in his United career, Scott McTominay was deployed in an attacking midfield role, and Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho were encouraged to move out wide and utilise their blistering pace on the counter-attack.

United would always have their best chance of winning by adopting such an approach, though it relied on a number of variables going their way if it was ever going to work.

They would have to defend resolutely throughout, take whatever opportunities came their way, and then hope that City wasted the abundance of attacks that they would inevitably