"Lukaku's hold-up play has been non-existent today," Gary Neville critiqued sharply.
"Positioning, balance, touch—it's all lacking. Against a team like City, if the ball doesn't stick, it keeps coming back at you."
"I suspect Mourinho has seen enough," Martin Tyler added. "He needs a focal point. Someone who can bully Otamendi and bring others into play."
"And here is the change. Manchester United substitute number 9, Romelu Lukaku, for number 10—Zlatan Ibrahimović."
Lukaku trudged off, head down, knowing he hadn't impacted the game.
Ibrahimović stopped him at the touchline, gripping his shoulder firmly.
"Don't dwell on it. Keep pushing."
Then, the Lion strode onto the pitch.
He swept a commanding gaze around Old Trafford, fixing his eyes immediately on Nicolas Otamendi.
The message was clear: You're mine now.
The game resumed with United sticking to the plan: solid defense and direct long balls.
But now, they had a target man.
Zlatan, despite being 36, used his immense experience to disrupt City's rhythm.
He immediately engaged Otamendi in several physical duels, throwing elbows and using his frame to dominate the mental battle.
63rd Minute, De Gea launched a high ball forward.
Ibrahimović backed into Otamendi, pinned him and cushioned a perfect header down to Jesse Lingard.
Lingard controlled it, looking to turn, but Fernandinho was there in a flash.
The City midfielder poked the ball away, sparking a transition.
"Danger here," Neville warned. "United are exposed!"
Fernandinho fed David Silva. The Spaniard turned into space, accelerating toward the United backline.
Ling, realizing the defense was out of shape, sprinted back. He saw the danger—if Silva released that pass, Sane was through on goal.
He didn't hesitate. Ling lunged in, wrapping his arms around Silva and dragging him to the icy turf.
Tweet!
Referee Michael Oliver blew his whistle instantly, reaching for his pocket.
Yellow Card.
Ling stood up and nodded.
He had no complaints.
It was a calculated, cynical foul. If he hadn't done it, the consequences would have been fatal.
A yellow card was a fair price to pay.
David Silva looked up from the ground, frustrated. He glared at United's number 7.
This kid wasn't playing like a rookie; he was playing with the cold calculation of a veteran.
On the sidelines, Mourinho furrowed his brow.
City's pressure was suffocating. United were pinned back, unable to breathe.
They needed to hold on.
Across the technical area, Pep Guardiola was plotting.
"Get Gundogan and Mangala warming up," Pep instructed his assistant.
He stroked his chin, muttering to himself. "If we can't win the aerial duels against Zlatan, we go to a false nine. We use movement. We switch to a back three to overload the midfield."
Guardiola punched his palm. He had the answer.
...
65th Minute into the game, the free kick was 38 meters out.
Too far for a shot, perfect for a cross.
"David Silva stands over it," Martin Tyler narrated. "Inswinger toward the near post..."
The ball curled in viciously.
Chris Smalling rose to clear it. He had a free header.
"Smalling!" Tyler shouted.
But the defender misjudged the flight of the ball in the swirling snow.
Instead of heading it wide, he made a mess of the contact, the ball skidding off his forehead and dropping into the danger zone.
Leroy Sane was the quickest to react. The German winger ghosted in behind the defense.
Bang!
A point-blank volley.
"GOAL FOR MANCHESTER CITY!"
"It's in! City are level!" Tyler screamed. "Despite the height disadvantage, they score from a set-piece! It's a scrappy goal, but they all count!"
"Disaster for Chris Smalling," Neville groaned. "He has to clear that. He's headed it right into the danger area. United are punished for a basic individual error."
...
Twitter (X) Trending: #ManchesterDerby #Sane
@RedDevil_Analysis:Smalling... I have no words. Basic defending. You learn that in the academy. Head it AWAY from goal! 🤦♂️
@CityZen:GET IN! SANE YOU BEAUTY! JUSTICE! 🔵
@TacticalTim:People blaming Ling for the foul need to learn football. If he doesn't foul Silva there, Sane is 1v1 with De Gea. Ling saved a goal; Smalling gifted it back.
@UnitedFan:Smalling has been shaky all season. We miss Bailly so much. This is going to be a long 25 minutes.
@PunditPat:Sterling's movement created the panic, but Sane applied the finish. Game on!
Old Trafford: Away End
Whoa!!!
The away section erupted.
After sixty minutes of tension, the City fans unleashed a torrent of noise.
This was the moment. The "Noisy Neighbors" were here to spoil the party.
Amid the snow, the famous anthem began to rise, haunting and melodic compared to United's chants.
"Blue Moon...""You saw me standing alone...""Without a dream in my heart...""Without a love of my own..."
On the pitch, David Silva celebrated with his teammates, but he kept one eye on Ling.
'Is the kid rattled?' he wondered. 'Is he blaming himself for the foul?'
He looked over.
Ling's face was ice cold. Calm and unbothered.
Silva frowned. 'This boy is dangerous.'
...
"My mistake. Sorry, lads."
Chris Smalling punched his own thigh in frustration. He looked ready to sink into the ground.
Several United players moved to console him, but a booming voice stopped them.
"Stop!"
Zlatan Ibrahimović stepped into the center of the circle.
His eyes were blazing!
"Do not feel sorry for yourself," Zlatan barked, cutting Smalling off. "Have you all relaxed because we were 1-0 up? This is a war!"
He looked at each of them—Ling, Pogba, De Gea.
"We are a team. We pay for mistakes together. We have paid the price. Now?" Zlatan pointed at the City goal.
"Now we make up for it."
"The only way to fix this is to put the ball in their net. Do you understand?"
The United players stared at the giant Swede.
The fear of losing was replaced by the fear of disappointing Zlatan.
They nodded vigorously.
"Let's go!"
---------
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