Man City 4-1 Man United: Three things Rangnick got wrong in derby disaster
Some believe the result may have been different if the man responsible for making the big calls Ralf Rangnick adopted a better approach to the derby clash
Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez scored two goals each as City showed superiority over their neighbours, United in the latest instalment of the Manchester derby on Sunday at the Etihad Stadium.
While De Bruyne scored a first-half brace, Mahrez got his moments in the second half as City trounced Manchester United 4-1 in their Super Sunday clash at the Etihad.
City had initially seen their lead at the top of the Premier League table cut to just three points by Liverpool on Saturday and they knew they cannot afford to drop points against their fierce city rivals.
Pep Guardiola's men understood the assignment and they delivered accordingly.
However, some believe the result may have been different if the man responsible for making the big calls Ralf Rangnick adopted a better approach to the derby clash
These are THREE of the things Rangnick got wrong on a disappointing afternoon at the Etihad...
Benching Rashford
As Gary Neville alluded to before the match, much of United's recent success at the Etihad has come as a result of slick, counter-attacking play.
His point was further emphasised by Sancho's stunning goal.
So it was a baffling decision for Rangnick to shun Rashford, who had the pace to really hurt Manchester City on the counter.
The fact that Rashford can't get into this United side ahead of the likes of Anthony Elanga with names such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Edinson Cavani missing is a massive problem.
And it represents the remarkable fall from grace he's suffered over the past few months.
Keeping faith with Maguire
It's been a rotten campaign for Harry Maguire, and the United captain endured another rough afternoon against City.
The £80million man failed to cover himself in glory for either of De Bruyne's goals and struggled to provide the leadership and organisation that United desperately needed to stand any chance of pinching a result against their noisy neighbours.
In fairness to Rangnick, Raphael Varane's absence left him devoid of options at the back for the big game.
But it was always going to be a massacre going up against City with Maguire in such calamitous form.
He was tormented from start to finish - and Rangnick needs to seriously consider putting the United captain out of his misery by ditching him when Varane is back.
Hauling Pogba off
With Manchester United desperately needing a moment of magic to get back into the game at 2-1, it was a strange decision to withdraw Pogba.
The divisive Frenchman hardly had his best game for the Red Devils, but he played a part in United's goal and seemed their best bet to conjure up an opening on the break.
Fernandes has so often been United's saviour when they've found themselves up against it over the past couple of seasons.
But Rangnick would have been better served by sacrificing him rather than Pogba at the Etihad.
