CHAPTER 356: THE TIGHTEST DEFENSE IN ALL OF EUROPE; MANCHESTER CITY

It was hard to gauge just how impressive this forty-year unbeaten European home record truly was. Before 1993, United had gone nearly three decades without a league title, which meant they rarely featured in the Champions League.

Their European appearances were mostly in the UEFA Cup or the Cup Winners’ Cup, and they seldom faced the continent’s true powerhouses. In that light, the record was somewhat misleading—especially since there were many seasons in which United weren’t in Europe at all. Still, none of that softened the reality of their current slump.

The price of youth was now being paid in full.

Ferguson demanded that his young players see out the full ninety minutes in every league and Champions League match. The relentless schedule, coupled with fierce media criticism, was beginning to weigh heavily on them.

Perhaps no one felt that weight more than Eric Cantona. Out of nowhere, he announced his retirement. Officially, he said he had "lost the passion" and the "fire inside." In truth, the signs had been there for some time.

Years earlier, he had briefly retired in his mid-twenties, only to be coaxed back.

This time, there would be no return. Cantona admitted he could no longer approach the game with the same focus and dedication that had once defined him.

Of course, that wasn’t the only reason. According to ESPN, Cantona later admitted that he might have delayed his retirement had he been selected for the 1998 World Cup squad, hinting that he still harbored dreams of playing for France. But French national team coach Aimé Jacquet had already made up his mind. In France’s final six friendly matches before the tournament, Jacquet excluded Cantona entirely—a clear signal that the door to the national team was closed for good.

The roots of this decision traced back to the infamous 1995 "kung-fu kick" incident, when Cantona launched himself into a Crystal Palace supporter in the stands. The assault earned him an eight-month ban, irreparably damaging his reputation and all but ending his international career.

The mental toll of that blow was far heavier than any physical injury. It drained the passion that had once defined him, and the spiritual leadership he had brought to Manchester United seemed to lose its sparkle.

Since the start of the new season, Cantona’s performances had been underwhelming. A costly red card, followed by two straight defeats, saw him suspended for the next matches—during which United suffered heavy losses. The young squad was now teetering on the brink of collapse.

Under mounting pressure, Manchester United were set to face their cross-city rivals today. After nineteen rounds, City sat on 44 points, while United trailed with just 35—a daunting nine-point gap!

To make matters worse, Arsenal had overtaken Leicester to move into second place, leaving United five points adrift of even that position.

It was a simple equation for Ferguson’s men: win, or watch their season slip away.

After the warm-up, the players filed back into the dressing room. O’Neill rose to his feet, hands tucked casually into his pockets. He scanned the room, taking in the calm, focused expressions of his squad, before asking lightly,

After the warm-up, the players filed back into the dressing room. O’Neill rose to his feet, hands tucked casually into his pockets. He scanned the room, taking in the calm, focused expressions of his squad, before asking lightly,

"Do I need to say anything?"

In unison, the players roared, "No need!"

This wasn’t Old Trafford—it was Maine Road. City were in red-hot form, riding a wave of confidence. Last season, they had come agonisingly close to stealing all three points here. Today, they intended to leave without a single regret.

O’Neill’s gaze sharpened, his voice dropping to a steely calm. "In the past three months, we’ve conquered the Premier League. Today, we dominate them—and give the fans exactly what they came for. Let’s go!"

He turned, swung open the locker room door, and strode out first, his players following with confident, measured steps.

In the tunnel, Manchester United waited. But the Red Devils no longer exuded the aura of dominance they once carried. From behind, Solskjær stood lost in thought—until a firm hand landed on his shoulder. Turning, he saw Ronaldo beaming at him.

The two embraced warmly, a brief spark of camaraderie in the tense air. Soon after, Larsson and the others joined in, sharing a moment of unity before the storm. However, just as Larsson stepped forward to embrace Solskjær, a firm hand clamped down on his shoulder, stopping him in his tracks.

Startled, he turned to see Mourinho standing there.

"What are you doing?" Mourinho asked quietly, his voice low but laced with authority.

Larsson hesitated. "What?"

Mourinho’s gaze flicked toward Ronaldo and Solskjær, still clasped in a warm hug. "Friendship is fine in here," he said, gesturing around the City half of the tunnel, "but not over there. Not now."

In high-stakes football matches — especially fierce local derbies — managers often try to control every mental and emotional factor that could influence performance.

Maintaining a Killer Mentality.

Mourinho then stepped closer, lowering his tone even further. "This is a derby, Henrik. Every look, every handshake, every smile—they see it. And they feed off it. Out there, they’re not your friends. Out there, every bit of warmth you give them makes you weaker in their eyes."

Indeed, it has always an "us vs. them".

The tunnel is often the first psychological battleground. If City players are seen laughing and hugging their opponents, it could signal to United that City aren’t fully locked in for a fight. Younger or less experienced players might see it as a sign that the match isn’t as hostile or intense as it should be.

’We’re here to dominate.’ That’s the consistent message Mourinho wants to send.

Moreover, knowing the fans’ emotions, he would see this as a moment to feed that competitive fire, not cool it. A handshake after the final whistle is fine — but before kickoff, it’s all business.

"..."

Larsson was speechless. Wasn’t this a bit excessive?

Mourinho’s eyes narrowed, the faintest smirk tugging at his lips. "We shake their hands after we’ve beaten them. Not before."

If they—and the home crowd—welcomed him warmly, it would only mean one thing: they were too soft, as if they were handing the Red Devils three points on a silver platter!

Larsson gave a slow nod, stepping back into line as Mourinho’s words sank in. The noise from the stands above grew louder, the air in the tunnel thick with anticipation.

O’Neill was the first to step out of the tunnel, striding with purpose toward the away team’s bench. Across the pitch, Ferguson was already seated in his spot, legs crossed, jaw working steadily on a piece of gum.

"Alex. Hope you’re ready for a proper game."

Ferguson’s chewing stopped for a heartbeat, his gaze steady. "We’ve been ready for weeks."

The two managers locked eyes for a moment, the roar of the crowd swelling around them, before O’Neill turned and continued toward his dugout. Ferguson leaned back in his seat, resuming his slow, deliberate chewing—like a man already plotting his next move.

In their previous encounter, he had stirred the pot with psychological warfare, urging other Premier League teams to go hard against City. Recently, however, he had dialed it back, burdened by internal and external troubles at United; he was too preoccupied to engage in verbal sparring, especially with his side currently sitting third in the league.

For the past two months, O’Neill had adopted a low-profile stance with the media. No matter what Ferguson said, he would respond with a diplomatic tone: if United maintained high-level performances, winning the league was a given. They had greater strength and experience than City, and his side was simply focused on doing well in the next match. A championship? United were still the top favorites.

Glancing at a fatigued United lineup without Cantona, O’Neill took his position on the touchline, hands in pockets, watching as the players made their entrance onto the pitch.

How crucial is a team’s spiritual leader?

It is an intangible force that can elevate a team’s performance to another level. United’s recent unraveling was closely tied to Roy Keane’s injury and Cantona’s sudden retirement.

As for Manchester City, the team has solidified its central axis, which has served as the bedrock of the squad since its formation.

After the era of Cafu and Roberto Carlos, it is now Javier Zanetti, Ronaldo, and Larsson who form the spine of the side. Their respected positions in the locker room are indisputable. Moreover, their resilience and unflagging attitude inspire and drive the entire team forward.

As the match approached kick-off, both sides wore serious, focused expressions.

"The focal battle of Round Nineteen in the English Premier League is about to ignite here at Maine Road. Defending champions Manchester United face the current league leaders, Manchester City. Well, City have been on a tear lately—fourteen consecutive victories in all competitions and nine straight wins in the Premier League.

"Pre-match media opinion suggests that, despite United’s home advantage, City are the favorites tonight. And let’s not forget, United have conceded eleven goals in their last four matches—their worst run of back-to-back defeats in sixty-six years! Just three days ago, their forty-year unbeaten home record in European competition came to an end. Has the reign of the Red Devils reached its end? What do you think, Andy?"

"Martin, if Manchester United can’t put a stop to City’s winning streak today, it could all but end their title hopes."

"Why? Is a twelve-point gap really that insurmountable? We’ve only played twelve rounds! Last season, Newcastle had a twelve-point lead at one stage."

Andy Gray, one of Sky Sports’ top commentators, shook his head. "Martin, have you seen how many goals City have conceded in all competitions this season? Have you not realised their defence this year is far superior to last season’s? They can score for fun, but their back line is just as strong!"

Manchester City continue to improve, and now every team in the Premier League appears bewildered when facing them—because you simply cannot contain their midfield or break through their defence.

Richard’s decision to pair Cannavaro with Thuram has proven to be a stroke of genius.

One of the tightest defensive units in all of Europe!

Cannavaro played the "reader" role — quick to intercept, track movements, and cut passing lanes. Thuram played the "enforcer" role — winning aerial duels, stopping counterattacks, and handling the most physically dominant forwards.

Moreover, with Makelele in front of them, opposition attacks rarely reached the back line in numbers.

Even when teams bypassed the midfield, the duo of Cannavaro and Thuram coordinated to shut down spaces quickly, forcing attackers wide or into low-percentage shots. Tactical intelligence, complementary skill sets, and elite defensive discipline made them as close to impenetrable as a defensive pairing could get.

Originally, it was at Parma that Cannavaro first crossed paths with Gianluigi Buffon and Lilian Thuram — the trio would go on to form one of the tightest and most formidable defensive units in all of Europe, while also becoming some of the closest friends he would have in football.

Alongside them, the legendary Parma backline also featured the likes of Luigi Sartor, Roberto Mussi, Antonio Benarrivo, Luigi Apolloni, and the Argentine stalwart Néstor Sensini. It was during his years at the club that Cannavaro began to enjoy real success, both on a personal and team level.

Now, it was Manchester City who eventually prised them away from Parma. Their chemistry was exceptional — whenever one stepped forward to engage, the other instinctively dropped back to cover, making it incredibly difficult for opponents to pull them out of shape.

The partnership is so strong that even Gallas, once considered irreplaceable, has been displaced—his spot taken by the duo. Should opponents use man-marking or zonal marking? Press high up the pitch or sit deep and swarm at the back?

Whatever the approach, City always find an answer. They can carve teams open through the middle, and their wing play is equally polished.

Their scoring threat is spread evenly, with Zidane, Ronaldo, and Larsson combining for 31 goals in the last fifteen matches—an average of nearly two goals per game!

Among them, Ronaldo leads with 22 goals, while Larsson has 7 and Zidane has contributed 2. It can be said that City’s attack is now nearly impossible to defend against; if they leave Maine Road today with a victory, I believe nothing can stop them from claiming the club’s first-ever top-flight league title—provided they don’t create problems for themselves.

"But for the sake of suspense in the Premier League, we hope United can show the spirit of defending champions. At the very least, they cannot afford another setback. Now, let’s introduce today’s starting lineups: Manchester United — goalkeeper: Schmeichel; defenders: Neville, May, Johnsen, Irwin; midfielders: Brian McClair, Karel Poborský, Giggs, Beckham; forwards: Teddy Sheringham and Andy Cole. United are lining up in a 4-4-2 formation today, which suggests Ferguson wants to counter City’s midfield dominance and rely on two strikers up front."

"Manchester City’s lineup: starting goalkeeper — Buffon; defenders — Zanetti, Cannavaro, Thuram, Capdevila; midfielders — Makelele, Pirlo, Neil Lennon, Okocha; forwards — Larsson, Ronaldo. O’Neill has made it clear that he’s going all out for the league with this starting XI, fielding substitutes in the League Cup and UEFA Cup to ensure his players get enough rest. They’re fit, focused, and consistently delivering stellar performances. Alright, the match is underway! The visiting Manchester City kicks off. What kind of strategy will they employ against Manchester United? Let’s wait and see!"