article_snippet.sent: A sixth successive Premier League victory that cements United in third place owes much to the revival of Ashley Young, Marouane Fellaini and Juan Mata and the progress being made by Chris Smalling and Phil Jones.
article_snippet.sent: But if this game highlighted the skills of Van Gaal, this game also illustrated where City’s beleaguered manager has fallen short this season.
article_snippet.sent: While Manchester United are in the ascendancy, Manuel Pellegrini has overseen a period of decline for a stuttering City side.
article_snippet.sent: While Manchester United are now celebrating the renaissance of players like Young, Manuel Pellegrini faces the question of what on earth has happened to a side who were so superior to Manchester United a year ago.
article_snippet.sent: But this game was a microcosm of City’s season:
article_snippet.sent: a decent start, marked by that first Aguero goal, and then a period of steady, draining decline.
article_snippet.sent: his players were a poor imitation of the side that so impressed here last year.
article_snippet.sent: Nothing like the champions of England.
article_snippet.sent: Compared to Chelsea, Manchester United are some way short of the best in England too and both clubs will need to invest heavily again this summer to close that gap.
article_snippet.sent: But this morning Manchester United and City appear to be travelling in opposite directions, one on the rise and the other entering another period of upheaval.
article_snippet.sent: At Old Trafford the drop in standards at Manchester City was obvious to all, and probably explained why the atmosphere was electric.
article_snippet.sent: Manchester United’s supporters are enjoying seeing Manchester City suffer as much as United’s supporters are now beginning to appreciate the leadership of Van Gaal.