The Manchester derby delivered plenty of drama, but one moment that caught the attention of fans was Erling Haaland’s reaction after Phil Foden was shown a red card.
Foden was sent off in the 23rd minute after kicking out at Bruno Fernandes, leaving Manchester City with 10 men for more than an hour. As Foden made his way off the pitch, Haaland appeared to tell his teammate to “get off”, showing just how frustrated he was with the situation. Haaland explained that he was frustrated because they needed Foden during this Manchester derby which why he had to tell him to just get off the pitch before things get worse.
City were suddenly facing a huge challenge at Old Trafford, but instead of collapsing, they showed remarkable resilience. Haaland eventually became the hero, scoring in the 60th minute to give City a 1–0 victory and his ninth goal in Manchester derbies.
The Norwegian striker later praised City’s fighting spirit, while teammate Elliot Anderson revealed that Foden was still celebrating with the squad after the final whistle despite his early dismissal.
From frustration to victory
What looked like a disaster for City after Foden’s red card ultimately became a statement win. The victory keeps City’s perfect start to the Premier League season intact, while United are left with serious questions after failing to beat a 10-man City side.
Was Haaland right to be frustrated with Foden, or was the red card simply part of the derby drama?