The weekend’s Manchester Derby ended in a first defeat for Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United as they were beaten 2-1 at Old Trafford by local rivals Manchester Derby.
The Sky Blues dominated the opening proceedings and took a comfortable 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Kevin De Bruyne and youngster Kelechi Iheanacho.
United pulled one back through Zlatan Ibrahimovic (who else) after some less than convincing keeping from Claudio Bravo, but the Red Devils couldn’t find an equaliser late in the game despite heavy pressure on the City defence and more hapless work from City’s new number 1 Bravo.
The win for City sees them continue their perfect start under Pep Guardiola having won all four of the Premier League games so far, while United now slip to fourth.
The tie was billed as the clash of two giants and their managers. It was United vs. City, Jose vs. Pep. Both sides had a difficult time last season, but the recruitment of a vast amount of new players – including the likes of Paul Pogba for United and John Stones for City – meant the battle for Manchester had been reignited as both clubs look to challenge for the Premier League title.
It was added spice that the two new managers had a long-standing rivalry and, at one point, friendship from their time in Spain together.
One of the more interesting battles that emerged from the tie, however, and one that possibly was swept under the rug amidst the excitement of the Rocky-Drago-esque clash that was Jose-Pep, was the battle of youth. More specifically, the battle of two young strikers, United’s 18-year old prodigy Marcus Rashford vs. City’s star in the making Kelechi Iheanacho.
How two young strikers – products of the respective youth systems – became pivotal in the weekend’s tie was fascinating, especially considering the respective worth of each side’s starting XI.
And although it seems logical to say Iheanacho came out on top having got on the scoresheet during the win, young Rashford was equally as impressive during his short spell in the game, prompting Jose Mourinho to promise him a starting place against Feyenoord this Thursday night.
Both certainly have big futures, and both are indispensable figures in their club’s futures, but who is the better of the two? I appreciate that may be like asking the impossible question,but it’s worth a pop seeing as the pair could be the difference between who wins the title or not this season despite having a combined age of only 37. That’s younger than Francesco Totti.
Looking at both player’s goal scoring records at club level gives an indication as to who is the most prolific of the pair. Iheanacho scored 14 goals in 37 appearances last season (mostly from the bench) and has already scored one this season in the Manchester Derby itself.
Rashford, on the other hand, scored eight in 18 under Louis van Gaal last season as he became the Dutchman’s secret weapon who emerged out of the blue to rocket himself onto the radar of world football.
At international level, Iheanacho has three goals in five appearances for Nigeria. Rashford has only the one international goal for England having scored on his debut, but did grab himself a hat-trick on his England U21 debut.
So, in terms of scoring goals, the pair aren’t that dissimilar, neither on the international or club stages. It is their style of play, however, that significantly differs, and makes one stand out significantly from the other.
Nigerian Iheanacho has the goal snatching instinct of a veteran striker far beyond his years. The 19-year-old has a habit of always being in the right place at the right time and it is no accident, as his reading of the game is superior to most his age and even those older than him, as he is able to anticipate where the ball is likely to be so he can bag himself a goal.
It is a brilliant skill to have, and one that is hard to find in modern day strikers. However, Iheanacho, while undoubtedly talented, is a poacher – a brilliant one it must be said – but for me is yet to prove he is anything but.
England’s Rashford, however, is a different beast entirely. While he has the ability to poach – proven by his last gasp winner at Hull only two weeks ago – his arsenal of weapons stretches far further than merely clinical finishing.
It has been a long time since I’ve seen a player run at defenders the way Marcus Rashford does. The way he goes at people has them instantly on the back foot, pedalling hopelessly towards their own goal, reminiscent of Thierry Henry in his pomp. It is a nightmare for defenders to deal with.
And once he has them on the back-foot, the following is even more impressive. On multiple occasions, we have seen the youngster shift quickly before bending the ball past the keeper with a Berbatov-esque nonchalance. It is a spectacle to behold and something a young English striker has not done in a long time – arguably ever. The Henry comparison is uncanny, and he is the only other player I can think of who seemed to do it in such a similar fashion.
Perhaps the most exciting thing about Rashford, though, is his tenacity and energy. Iheanacho does have that, no doubt, but his game is far more about waiting for the ball to come to him. Rashford, on the other hand? He goes and gets it. Like a child in a school ground who simply wants to play, he makes things happen. He chases lost balls. He hassles defenders. He tracks back. And his energy is seemingly endless.
That is what makes him special, and makes him the cornerstone of Manchester United’s and England’s future.
The 18-year-old striker is as impressive a player I have seen in the league in a long time and as complete of as player anY 18-year-old has been in the Premier League.
It is now up to Jose Mourinho – a man famed with never giving youth a chance – to unleash his talent on the world and mature him into the player everyone knows he can be.
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