In derby, a glimpse at an old looking Manchester City, a view into end of an era

It feels as though City’s golden generation, the men who orchestrated historic humiliations against United, have to seek solace in previous exploits, Richard Jolly writes. City looked old and tired in their 1-0 loss to United.

Sergio Aguero, left, Martin Demichelis, David Silva and Yaya Toure shown during Sunday's Manchester derby loss at the Etihad Stadium. Laurence Griffiths / Getty Images / March 20, 2016

Manchester City 0 Manchester United 1

Manchester United Rashford 16'

Man of the match Michael Carrick (United)

Manchester City have gone three derbies without a win and two without a goal. Such runs used to be normal in a fixture where inferiority was institutionalised. Now they represent a stark change. They show an era is ending, if not ended.

The Manuel Pellegrini years certainly are. Across the end of Roberto Mancini's reign and the start of the Chilean's, City won six league meetings out of seven against Manchester United. They overpowered them, outclassed them and outwitted them. At times, they demolished them.

Yet that was the past.

On days like this, it feels as though City’s golden generation, the men who orchestrated historic humiliations, have to seek solace in previous exploits. The 27-year-old Sergio Aguero apart, they looked old and tired.

Certainly, there is a need for new ideas, which Pep Guardiola ought to introduce, and fresh blood. Pellegrini denied his team had stopped playing for him – a suggestion he was never going to accept – but City had neither the inspiration nor the energy they have displayed on previous such occasions.

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Yaya Toure offered occasional hints he would rouse himself and David Silva showed glimpses of elegant incision but Aguero was alone among their modern-day greats. Only he could be satisfied with his performance. Joe Hart, like the newcomer Raheem Sterling, went off injured. Vincent Kompany did not even take the field, courtesy of his latest calf problem.

Bodies have broken down. The years have taken their toll.

At a stage of the season when City often surge to the title, they are slowing down. They have taken four points from a possible 18. They have played five games in March and their only goals have come against Aston Villa. They lost to an undistinguished United side who nevertheless showed the capacity of youngsters to engineer renewal.

For all his flaws, Louis van Gaal has faith in youth. Pellegrini places too much trust in experience.

City’s oldest player was also their worst. The afternoon’s indelible image was that of Martin Demichelis sat on his backside as Marcus Rashford sped away from him to score the decider.

The sense it was an unfair contest was underlined half an hour later when the 35-year-old upended the teenager in the penalty area. In his defence, Demichelis got there as quickly as he could. To his relief, Michael Oliver did not award the spot kick.

A few defy the ageing process; most find it brutally cruel as, sooner or later, they are embarrassed by someone younger, fitter and faster. Demichelis was. Rashford is 17 years his junior, little more than half his age.

“Demichelis looked like the years are catching up with him,” a blunt Van Gaal said. “He was a very good defender, he was my centre-back in Bayern but that is the life of football.”

His decline has been advertised in a dreadful season. City may consider themselves unfortunate that their preferred centre-backs, Kompany and Nicolas Otamendi, were both sidelined, but City were complicit in their downfall nonetheless.

Pellegrini ought to have used Bacary Sagna in their stead. Instead his stubbornness manifested itself in the choice of an old ally from his River Plate and Malaga days. His substitution in the 52nd minute, enforced after Hart was injured because of his poor backpass, added to the litany of ignominies in a wretched campaign.

Demichelis has started 17 games and City have conceded 28 goals in that time. It would be a worrying figure for a relegation-threatened team. For one with City’s aspirations, it is disastrous.

If this goes down in history as the Demichelis derby, it will be the final embarrassment. His confidence shot as he was substituted, he seems consigned to history now.

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