- Man City came from behind on Sunday afternoon to beat rival Man United
- Several records were broken with Rodri surpassing a Chelsea legend in the match
- Is Kevin De Bruyne’s confidence ill-mannered or should we defend the confidence of the world’s best? It all starts podcast
Not only did Manchester City secure a 3-1 win over rivals Manchester United on Sunday, but they also claimed bragging rights, putting themselves within a point of Premier League leaders Liverpool and ending a proud United record that has stood for more than a decade .
Rodri, who was a standout throughout the match, producing two assists to beat Phil Foden for his first goal and Erling Haaland for stoppage-time, also surpassed a milestone set by a Chelsea legend in 2008.
While Erik ten Hag’s side suffered an eventual defeat, the Dutch manager claimed his side are ‘really making progress’ and praised the Red Devils for their ‘togetherness’, singling out Marcus Rashford for his sensational goal.
The England striker got the Red Devils off to a flying start by hitting a wonder goal into the net from distance to give the visitors a 1-0 lead after just eight minutes.
The visitors held off their city rivals’ advance until half-time, with Erling Haaland missing an absolute sitter just before half-time. Despite this, Pep Guardiola’s side hit back in the second term, with Foden scoring a sublime goal himself, curling the ball from outside the penalty area into the top left corner of Andre Onana’s goal.
Rodri surpassed an impressive record for a Chelsea legend after Man City’s 3-1 win over Man United
Manchester City also broke a 16-year record held by Manchester United after Erik Ten Hag’s side took a 1-0 lead in the first half
Marcus Rashford had given the visitors the lead with a sensational strike from outside the penalty area
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He followed with a second before Erling Haaland sealed the 3-1 victory with a goal in stoppage time, bringing City within one point of Premier League leaders Liverpool.
But before today, United had not lost a game after leading 1-0 at half-time since September 2014, when they suffered a 5-3 defeat to Leicester, according to Opta.
Sunday’s defeat to City ended a decade-long run of being unbeaten in 143 games when leading at half-time, having won 123 of those games and drawn 20.
But that wasn’t the only record broken: Rodri surpassed a record set by former Chelsea star Ricardo Carvalho 16 years ago.
The Blues defender sensationally managed to make 58 appearances for Chelsea without seeing his team suffer defeat between November 2006 and February 2008.
But City’s win on Sunday means Rodri has now surpassed that statistic as he has not suffered a defeat in his last 59 games for the club.
Guardiola’s side have suffered just three defeats in the Premier League this season, with the Spaniard notably absent for all three games – which perhaps says something about his importance in this City side.
Despite Rodri breaking Carvalho’s record, it was Foden who was City’s star on Sunday, with Guardiola praising his striker as an ‘already legendary player’.
‘Winning matches means you become a world-class player. Everyone is playing well, but you have to win games, and he is winning games. What can I say?’, the Spanish manager told Sky Sports after the match.
Bruno Fernandes’ side had not been beaten since 2014 after taking the lead at half-time
Pep Guardiola’s team has now come within one point of leader Liverpool in the Premier League
Rodri (left) has not lost while appearing on Man City’s team sheets in 59 games
Guardiola has praised Phil Foden, who scored twice in the match, as an ‘already legendary player’
‘He likes soccer. He lives to play. There are people who like to play. He likes to play football.
‘He will already be a legendary player because in a short time the games played, the minutes, the goals scored, the titles won and he comes from home and therefore the connection with the fans is incredible.
“He is the player of the season, with all due respect to great players, but no one has been as decisive for us this season as he has been.”