Erik ten Hag may not want to admit it publicly, but Manchester United are firmly in the title race.
A decade after Sir Alex Ferguson led them to their last Premier League triumph before retiring, United are finally back challenging to be champions again. Two goals in five manic minutes sent Old Trafford into delirious ecstasy and confirmed United's reemergence as genuine contenders for a 21st league title.
This stunning win, a ninth in a row in all competitions, took Ten Hag's side up to third, just a point behind City and within six of leaders Arsenal – where United go next weekend. Ten Hag may want to play down talk of a title tilt in his first season in charge, but the reality is that United are right in the mix and could even overtake City this week.
United go to Crystal Palace on Wednesday, where victory will take them above City, who host Tottenham the following night. Such a scenario would have been unthinkable two games into the season, after United suffered humiliating back-to-back defeats to Brighton and Brentford to leave them bottom of the table.
But it is testament to Ten Hag's management that he has transformed United since those early setbacks, taking more points than any other Premier League side in their subsequent 16 games.
No one epitomised United's fighting spirit and courage more than stand-in skipper Bruno Fernandes, who plundered their equaliser and drove the team on to victory with an inspired display.
Since their 6-3 mauling at the Etihad Stadium back in October, United had been almost flawless, winning 15, drawing two and losing just once in all competitions to underline their progress under Ten Hag.
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Yet this was the ultimate test of that revival, against the Premier League champions and the best side in the country, arguably the whole of Europe. And it was one United passed, showing remarkable strength of character to come from behind to register a statement win that has shown the rest of the league they are back.
Before the game, United playmaker Fernandes talked of Ten Hag's side not being afraid of anyone, of how they were ready to prove they could challenge City. When United trailed 1-0 after an hour, following a header from substitute Jack Grealish, those words from Fernandes looked like bold – but ultimately empty - rhetoric.
But United's inspired late comeback illustrated the change in mentality Ten Hag has instilled in the broken squad he inherited and how he has built it back up quicker than anyone could have imagined.
There were heroic performances all over the pitch from those in the famous red shirt – Tyrell Malacia shackling Riyad Mahrez, Luke Shaw nullifying the threat of Erling Haaland, Fred justifying his inclusion with a typically belligerent display and Alejandro Garnacho coming off the bench to set up the winner for Marcus Rashford.
Rashford played through the pain barrier, after suffering what appeared to be a groin injury in the first half, his bravery and perseverance rewarded with the winner eight minutes from time.
It was Rashford's 16th goal of the season and his ninth in nine successive games at Old Trafford, equalling Busby Babe Dennis Viollet's United record, set back in 1959, a year after the Munich tragedy.
This season, United have beaten leaders Arsenal – the only team to do so in the league – and have also been victorious over Liverpool, Tottenham and now City. Beating that calibre of opponent is proof that they are ready to challenge for the title.
City have finished above United for the past nine seasons, but under Ten Hag there is the very realistic prospect of that run coming to an end this year. But United will want to aim higher than that, with the title now in their sights having put the “noisy neighbours” - as Ferguson famously coined City - in their place.
