Gary Lineker has heaped praise on Erik ten Hag for taking his Manchester United side to within a point of Man City after Saturday's 2-1 derby win - a scenario few envisaged after the 6-3 reverse in October.
The Red Devils came away from Old Trafford with all three points after coming back from 1-0 down. Jack Grealish opened the scoring for the away side, coming off the bench to nod home Kevin De Bruyne's cross, but two goals from Bruno Fernandes and then Marcus Rashford turned the tide.
Fernandes levelled on 78 minutes, slotting home after Rashford - who had originally been flagged offside - left Casemiro's through ball. The Englishman would get his moment just four minutes later, poking home the finish of a man on fire after brilliant work down the left from Alejandro Garnacho.
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A stark contrast, then, to the United side that crumbled inside the Etihad just over three months ago. Ten Hag's men conceded three goals inside 1- first-half minutes that day but cut a completely different attitude when gathering themselves to strike back with added venom this time round.
The change in mentality is credited to Ten Hag, who has led a complete shift in the playing squad and Lineker lauded the Dutchman for leading his side back into a potential title race.
Lineker tweeted: "So @ManUtd get to within a point of @ManCity just shy of the halfway stage of the season. Not sure many of us envisaged that happening. What an impressive job Erik ten Hag is doing."
A fourth consecutive Premier League win has lifted United to within just one point of their city rivals and six points short of table-toppers Arsenal - who face Tottenham Hotspur in their own derby on Sunday. The Gunners will then host Ten Hag's men in a massive game next weekend, but not before the Red Devils travel to Crystal Palace on Wednesday.
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