The Blues were on course for a jubilant title party but for the second time in a matter of days they have crumpled to a bitter defeat
It was all going so well for Manchester City. Okay, they missed a couple of chances which would have put them at least 3-0 up against their bitterest rivals, but they were just 45 minutes away from clinching the Premier League title all the same.
"This Is How It Feels" by Inspiral Carpets, a song long sang by United to taunt City, blared from the PA system as the teams made their way down the tunnel. This is City's song now. It's their league, too.
Highlights of their 5-0 win against Liverpool earlier this season played on the big screens, some of the attention already turning to Tuesday's Champions League clash against the Merseysiders.
United, in many senses, were almost in the rearview mirror. All the momentum was building for City. Premier League title done, Champions League comeback next. Party time.
And then it all went wrong. Paul Pogba, the man allegedly offered to City in January by his rogue agent, scored twice in 97 seconds to bring United back to life. He has rightly been criticised for a number of half-hearted performances in a red shirt this season, and he was no better in the first half, but he stepped up here.