ALL the talk before this game was about Marcus Rashford.
By the end, the delirious Manchester United fans did not give their former hero a second thought.
They had done very nicely without him, thank you, a point new Red Devils boss Ruben Amorim made quite forcibly afterwards.
Rashford’s ability meant he should have been here — he should have been centre stage, he should have had the spotlight following him.
But the forward’s application means the floodlights are fading very fast and he needs to be very careful if he is going to have a United career beyond the New Year.
This was a big statement from Amorim to leave Rashford, 27, and the 20-year-old Alejandro Garnacho out of the squad altogether.
On the morning of the game, they were ordered to train with Jonny Evans and Toby Collyer, while the rest of the squad prepared for the trip to the Etihad.
Amorim has simply not been happy with the pair in training, in games or, it appears, off the pitch either.
The fall from grace for Rashford has been dramatic.
From being a shining example to all kids who dream of becoming a football star for the club they grew up supporting.
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The trip from Withington to Buckingham Palace and an MBE in recognition of his fantastic work in ensuring this country’s poor and hungry children are looked after should never be forgotten.
On the pitch two seasons ago, Rashford also posted the career-best figures of 30 goals for a campaign.
The world then was at his feet . . . and then it all seemed to become too much.
The attention, the celebrity, the fame, the riches, the nightlife — all those temptations that come with being a modern-day Premier League star were there and he welcomed them.
Suddenly, a shy lad who used to stay under the radar off the field with his childhood sweetheart Lucia Loi was enjoying the trappings.
That relationship with Loi has been a casualty of it all, too.
Amorim could easily have used the excuse of rotation, tiredness, a tweak or whatever for his and Garnacho’s absence — but he was not going to. He wanted people to know why they were out. Not good enough.
Rashford’s form began to slide last season as he went from that remarkable 30-goal campaign in 2022-23 to scoring just eight times.
He lost his place not only in United’s first team but in the England squad for the summer’s Euros in Germany.
Former Old Trafford chief Erik ten Hag had protected him. The Dutchman warned him and he was still let down on — and notably off — the pitch.
First, when Rashford partied in the city centre following United’s 3-0 home derby defeat to Pep Guardiola’s men in October of last year.
Ten Hag said that was “unacceptable”.
It was his birthday and it was a quiet family affair, his PR guru tried to trot out. It was anything but.
Then Rashford was partying until the early hours of Friday, January 26, in Belfast, when he was meant to be training later that day ahead of a Sunday trip to Newport in the FA Cup.
He got a private jet back but rang in sick.
When former Ajax chief Ten Hag found out why, he was beyond angry.
The manager later confided that he wanted to freeze him out in United’s reserves but just did not have enough players.
The pair barely talked again.
AMAD DIALLO left Manchester City stunned as he turned the derby on its head.
The flying winger won a penalty, converted by Bruno Fernandes, in the dying embers to level it up.
But the best was yet to come as Amad flicked past an onrushing Ederson before expertly slotting in a dramatic winner from a tight angle deep into injury time.
Here’s how SunSport’s Neil Custis rated the Man Utd players…
Andre Onana – 6
He just does not fill you with confidence. Does not command his area and as we found out midweek in Plzen, his distribution from the back is a major plus for the opposition.
Wasn’t tested that much however.
Lisandro Martinez – 7
Looking a calmer presence under Amorim than he did before when he seemed to want to live up to his nickname from his Ajax days of ‘The Butcher of Amsterdam’.
Great through ball at the end to pick out Amad’s run for the winner.
Harry Maguire – 8
Had a great battle with Erling Haaland which the United man won.
The right call to bring the former captain in for such a big game. Looks like he suits the position in the centre of that back three.
Matthijs de Ligt 78′ – 7
A decent enough performance. Looked more comfortable alongside Maguire than other centre-back partners.
Diogo Dalot – 5
Mistimed his jump to be beaten to the ball by Josko Gvardiol for the City opener. Did not create enough going forward from his wing-back role.
Bruno Fernandes – 8
Missed a big chance after being put through by Hojlund and clipping the ball wide.
But when the moment comes from the penalty spot he is a cool head in the hottest of atmospheres sending Ederson the wrong way to equalise
Manuel Ugarte – 7
Sat in front of the back four and negated much of what Phil Foden was trying to do for the home side.
Noussair Mazraoui 78′ – 8
The best of the summer buys. Used as the right wing back on this occasion and is able to adjust to whatever is asked of him. One of United’s best performers on the day.
Mason Mount 13′ – 6
Looked very close to tears when he had to come off after early in the game. He is just getting no luck whatsoever with injuries and has not had a decent run since joining the club.
Amad Diallo 90′ – 9
The greatest moment of his career so far with a memorable derby winner. A brilliant run first of all to meet Martinez’ pass, he then clipped the ball past Ederson and while it was a scuffed finish he got it on target.
Had almost grabbed an equaliser with a flick header before that which was well saved by Ederson.
Then was alert to Nunes back pass to win the penalty that did lead to United drawing level.
Rasmus Hojlund 78′ – 6
Most we saw of him was a head to head confrontation with Walker when the City player slumped to the ground and a little fall of his own when he tried to win a pen.
But then he provided a great through ball for Fernandes which should have brought the equaliser.
Subs
Kobbie Mainoo 13′ – 6
Did a solid job as he came on in a deeper role than Mount and Fernandes moved forward
Joshua Zirkzee 78′ – 6
Not the man who is going to come on and change a game, but he did well to hold onto possession in the closing seconds.
Antony 78′ – 6
Came on to try and make a difference but is lacking the confidence which a lack of starts brings.
Leny Yoro 78′ – 6
Continues to ease himself back to full fitness after that summer injury.
Victor Lindelof 90′ – 6
No time to have any influence on the game.
It takes a lot for the Red Devils supporters to turn on one of their own — but that is what has happened with Rashford.
The fans see a lack of application, slumped shoulders, an unforgivable lack of effort on the pitch.
His United team-mates see it, too, and there have been verbal altercations on the pitch.
Amorim’s arrival from Sporting Lisbon last month offered new hope.
So what on earth was he doing spending the weekend before the new boss arrived courtside at an NBA game in New York, sporting a Louis Vuitton coat and glitzy grillz on his teeth?
Perhaps it was this that Amorim was referring to when he said it was “important how people dressed”.
There were so many withdrawals from the England squad at that time that anyone in a replica shirt had a chance of a call-up, but Rashford did not get one.
That is how far he has slipped down the ladder with the Three Lions.
He scored in the opening two minutes of Amorim’s first game in charge away to Ipswich.
And another pair followed in the 4-0 win over Everton.
But he started on the bench for the Arsenal and Nottingham Forest defeats.
He was then hooked after 56 minutes away to Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League. Amorim has seen enough.
The Portuguese says the player will get another chance — it will be his last.
And one day Rashford is really going to regret it . . .
