Image source: google
Manchester City's champagne football got the party started. Etihad Stadium stood to applaud their Premier League champions-elect.
The countdown to the coronation stood at 45 minutes.
Pep Guardiola's side only needed the sweetest of victories over Jose Mourinho's Manchester United to secure the title.
City went into this derby with a 16-point lead so the triumph is a formality - but they and their fans wanted it now, a show of power and glory they could parade in front of their neighbours.
As blue smoke swirled around the stadium from a flare and United and their supporters were being subjected to a range of cruel taunts, it seemed nothing could deny City their wish as they led 2-0 at half time with goals from Vincent Kompany and Ilkay Gundogan.
Raheem Sterling's old uncertainty in front of goal, absent this season, suddenly returned and his two missed chances ended up as decisive moments in a most unlikely turn of events.
United's fans had been forced to take this all on the chin, as had Mourinho, who stood motionless in his overcoat while Guardiola cast aside his own version and was down to his stylish jumper as he prowled the technical area.
And at the heart of all of United's struggles was £89m man Paul Pogba.
Image source: google
Pogba's fragile relationship with Mourinho has come under forensic examination during his absences from the side and he was in the headlines again when Guardiola, in the middle of a public exchange of views with his agent Mino Raiola, said he had been offered the player in January.
The leggy midfielder did not look like a player who would cross Guardiola's thoughts, either as a danger or potential acquisition, in a first 45 minutes in which United were dazzled and bewildered by City's brilliance.
Pogba's first goal after 53 minutes raised mild anxiety among the previously exultant City support.
His second, headed in two minutes later, created an air of panic.
Image source: google
And United's third from Chris Smalling was greeted with disbelief, probably even from the visiting fans.
The soundtrack of celebration from the first half was now a noise of desperation.
United goalkeeper David de Gea demonstrated his world-class ability with a brilliant save from Aguero before the curtain came down on 90 minutes that almost suspended belief and turned the hope of the home support upside down into despair.
Image source: google
The title will be won but there were wider factors at play.
City are still holding a 13-point lead in the title race with six games left and yet it was their supporters with head in hands, some in tears, as the fans of a team that has trailed in their slipstream all season celebrated wildly.
Paul Pogba the star of the whole show had this to say concerning the match.
*I didn't want to lose against City," he told Sky Sports. "The loss from last season is still in my mind.
"If they won they are champions, for all the fans it would be like death. To lose against City and to see them celebrate, I couldn't let that happen.
"At half-time in the dressing room we said we have nothing to lose."*
Pogba's two goals both came from late runs into the penalty area from deep and he credited a United stalwart's influence in that.
*"Michael Carrick has helped me a lot with these late runs," added the France international. "He always shows me videos of what I should be doing.
"With City, they love to attack, they don't like to defend, so I had to get more in the box. I knew I had Nemanja Matic behind me and Ander Herrera with me.
"For the goal I didn't think about anything. With Alexis Sanchez, he likes to play direct. I saw the space and just went. I was lucky Kompany wasn't tight enough."*
Definitely this match will go down in history in the world of football.
Source: Bbc-sport
Thank you for reading my post
