Manchester United’s Holy Trinity of Denis Law, George Best and Bobby Charlton is immortalised with statues outside Old Trafford. But would you believe it if I told you that Law, a player who had represented the Red Devils between 1962 and 1973, is regarded as one of the architects in relegating United after his famous backheel goal for Manchester City in the 1973-74 season?
In hindsight, United would still have been relegated even without Law’s goal but that backheel has been mythologized and considered one of the factors that took an already fierce rivalry between the erstwhile Newton Heath (United) and St Marks (City) to the next level. In their 131-year history of clashing on the football field, the initial days were calmer. The two clubs locked horns for the first time on November 12, 1881.
The rivalry resumes in a historic #FACup final! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/vzOhiDF2Jf
— Manchester City (@ManCity) June 2, 2023
But as the years went by, the two most powerful entities of Manchester traded titles and endured relegations before morphing into the almost mythical clash we see unfolding in front of our eyes in modern times. During Sir Alex Ferguson’s time, especially in the 1900s till the mid-2000s, United were the dominant team with City flip flopping around the lower divisions. They would ultimately reach the top flight in 2000 but the gulf between the two sides was palpable. United had won the treble just the previous season.
The derby at Old Trafford in the 2000/01 season will also be remembered for the horror tackle United legend Roy Keane had made on City’s Alfie Haaland which broke the latter’s leg. Back in 1997, Keane had suffered a cruciate ligament injury after a foul by Haaland, who plied his trade for Leeds United then. In that match, Haaland would accuse the Irishman of feigning his pain as he rolled around in agony. Cut to the 2000/01 Manchester derby and Keane would do the same thing to a fallen Haaland. The rivalry was well and truly reignited again.
However, City would have to wait another few years to match United’s legacy as the aforementioned season ended with United winning three trophies while City were relegated. They would promptly come back in 2002 and beat United 3-1, their first since 1989. The next one they would draw 1-1 as City remained unbeaten against United for the first time since 1991/92.
It's Final day 🏆
It's derby day ⚔️@ManCity and @ManUtd will battle it out for the #EmiratesFACup title – who will be crowned champions? pic.twitter.com/1AMzl0yNgS— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) June 3, 2023
The next few seasons would see City showing promise by beating United on quite a few occasions but could not match the success seen on the red side of Manchester. Change, however, loomed just over the horizon.
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On September 23, 2008 City were bought by Abu Dhabi United Group, backed by Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. In hindsight, this would change the entire spectrum of the Manchester rivalry. Under the new ownership, City had the financial backing and were able to woo players like Robinho, Emmanuel Adebayor, Kolo Toure, Gareth Barry, Roque Santa Cruz and Joleon Lescott in their initial transfer windows.
But the signing that showed the most intent was snatching away Carlos Tevez from Manchester United. The Argentine was a crucial part in United’s UCL and EPL winning team but he was on loan. He would ultimately decline United’s offer for a permanent deal and join City.
Sit back, relax and enjoy some of the BEST ever #EmiratesFACup Final goals 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/w2xLZ6anSc
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) June 2, 2023
City would still lose the first derby in which Tevez sported Blue 4-3 at Old Trafford when former Liverpool player, Michael Owen etched his name in Mancunian folklore as his toe poke in the 96th minute gave United the win. But the gap was becoming increasingly smaller.
The next season, buoyed by a Yaya Toure strike, City would eliminate United from the FA Cup signaling the first sign of intent from the ‘noisy neighbours’. They would go on to win the whole thing, thus ending their 35-year title drought. Little did they know that brighter days lay ahead.
The October of 2011 saw the match that Ferguson would rate as the “worst match of his career” with a new-look City dismantling United 6-1 in their own backyard as the Theatre of Dreams turned into a nightmare.
Courage, belief and togetherness ❤️
🧪 Erik’s formula for the best chance of success in today’s #FACup final…#MUFC
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) June 3, 2023
The title race would go down to the wire and on the last day, Sergio Aguero’s goal in a 3-2 win against QPR helped City beat their legendary rivals for the title on goal difference. Commentator Martin Tyler’s exclamation of “Aguerroooooooo” after the goal has become a part of modern Premier League folklore. A new regime was well and truly on its way. But Ferguson was not ready to cede control yet.
He would snatch the title the next season, his last in the league, courtesy of Robin Van Persie’s one-man show. This would be United’s last EPL title as a certain Pep Guardiola would soon join the Citizens and turn them into a well-oiled machine.
Since the arrival of the Catalan coach, City have won five league titles in six seasons. He has also masterminded three back-to-back Premier League wins, a feat that was last performed by United.
As the two sides lock horns for the first All-Manchester FA Cup final in history, United under Erik Ten Hag have the opportunity to deny Guardiola’s team a shot at immortality. With the Red Devils finally ending a six-year trophy drought this season with a League Cup win, they will go all guns blazing to deny City the historic treble.
Will we see another shift in the power dynamic of this ever evolving clash? We’ll find out soon enough.