Most of us have known this feeling. At playgrounds and classrooms, backyards and alleyways, nothing hurts more than a bully taking their sweet time to pull you apart. On his podcast, Gary Neville invoked the parallel of a boxer teasing their opponent for twelve full rounds, making them feel all possible kinds of pain, before landing the knockout punch.
To that end, last night must have been traumatic for Manchester United. The destruction they received at the hands of Liverpool was probably easier on the soul in comparison. That evening left United in a big, simmering cauldron of shock. What Manchester City dished out last evening was cold and agonising. They exposed every single flaw in United’s structure, defensive or attacking, and kept drilling in the message that they could land more blows if they wanted to, but were holding out because they would rather play out an elaborate rondo at Old Trafford. That stuff is painful.
The apology messages began right after full-time. Those emoji-filled captions on social media are rarely ever heartfelt, but David de Gea must have meant it when he wrote: “I am hurt.” Anyone would be. The hurt which stems from public humiliation rankles the most.
The three weeks between the last and this international break has been unforgiving for Manchester United. They have played Leicester, Atalanta home and away, Liverpool, Spurs and City. Most well-drilled teams would like these matches to be spread out over a longer time. United were coming off a run of two wins in six games, where they looked vulnerable to any sort of structure and organisation.
