Magnificent Man City proved they are streets ahead of Man United in a one-sided derby demolition

If there was one goal – one game passage – that summed up the difference between Manchester’s two teams, it was the third half of City’s first half that settled this game and underlined how unbalanced life has become in this great football city.

When a rare forward move by United in midfield failed, Jack Grealish carried the ball into the opponent’s area.

Christian Eriksen saw the danger, but not realizing that it was his job to close it off, took two steps away and then tried, far too late, to make way for the ball.

Grealish, with time and space to work with, gave Kevin de Bruyne possession and then the magic began.

The City Belgian – once their most celebrated player – had three options when he came within 25 yards of goal. The most obvious pass would have been to his right to the overlapping full-back.

The second best option seemed to be to take a shot. But because this is De Bruyne and this is City, the 31-year-old chose the most unlikely and by far the most difficult option of all.

To reach Erling Haaland at the far post, De Bruyne’s cross had to bypass two United defenders and then, most difficult of all, find that elusive channel between goalkeeper and an opaque red shirt.

It had to be perfect and of course it was. Haaland, sliding with his foot outstretched, rammed the ball into the goal and this game was over.

It was a fantastic goal from City that said everything about them and a lot about United. Everything City do under coach Pep Guardiola is backed by hard work.

Despite De Bruyne’s excellence, there is no target unless Haaland makes the most of every physical attribute he has to reach the ball.

Maximum effort remains an option for some United players, especially when things aren’t going well. Unfortunately, there was more evidence of that.

As Haaland celebrated the second of what would become three goals further for the United section of supporters, his father hugged friends who were with him on the chic seats just in front of the media room.

Alf-Inge was never as talented as his boy. Not around. However, he did know how to make a shift, and that’s a trait that he can claim has been passed down down the family line.

That was the big goal, the third. This is a United team that remains flawed, but is capable of scoring goals. They were miserable here and still managed to score three more.

So at two-zero down they were technically in the game, but at 3-0 the game was – as it was – dead and as the Haaland family did their thing in different parts of the stadium, a number of United supporters left their seats and went back to town. If the football is as bad as this, then the pub is a much more attractive option.

The city here was beautiful. This certainly stands out as one of the best 45 minutes of football under Guardiola.

Now that United manager Erik Ten Hag has left his back four horribly bare by bringing in a pair of Eriksen and Scott McTominay, City had acres of greenery to work in.

Nevertheless, there was something about the desperate hunger of their football that was impressive, even to those of us who have become familiar with it over the years.

Haaland and De Bruyne were irresistible, but so was Phil Foden. Watching the 22-year-old play with such acumen, energy and confidence, it was hard to reconcile with two totally indifferent sides who have contributed to England’s cause over the past nine days at Wembley and San Siro.

However, that is a problem for Gareth Southgate to consider and then solve. For City, Foden broke the 50-goal mark in an afternoon that stands out as one of his best in a club shirt.

United was drowning for a long time. They were totally incapable of competing with City and by playing so poorly they confirmed what many still suspect about them. This group of players is capable of winning big matches.

They showed that under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Still, they tend to collapse when things go bad. The way they conceded three quick goals towards the end of the first half was reminiscent of the 4-0 defeat at Brentford in August.

These two defeats were bookmarks to victories over Liverpool and Arsenal at Old Trafford and the award of September’s manager of the month to Ten Hag and that is United in a nutshell.

Sometimes it comes down to desire. Individual battles can be the platform for victory or otherwise. United lost way too much of that. Haaland left Eriksen and McTominay in a daze as he headed in his first goal and his team’s second.

Shortly after his raid, Brazilian Casemiro was muscled by Bernardo Silva. The score was 4-1 for City at the time, but the home side showed the bigger appetite.

United won the second half, which was weird. Their two late goals were ironically cheered by City supporters. Soon, Haaland and Foden were bickering about the match ball like toddlers in a sandbox.

Somewhere a reserve emerged. Tribute, even to those in blue anyway. Between blue and red, the imbalance has long been evident and remains.