CHRIS WHEELER: Erling Haaland and Rasmus Hojlund are simply worlds apart… Man City striker rammed the taunts of United fans down their throats with brace in derby rout

• OLIVER HOLT: Man City’s 3-0 win was harsh lesson in art of football for United
• Erling Haaland fired the visitors ahead after Rasmus Hojlund gave away penalty
• Follow Mail Sport’s brand new Man United WhatsApp channel for breaking news

Ten past two on Sunday, and the Manchester City squad got off the team bus to a smattering of half-hearted boos from the home fans gathered around the players’ entrance at Old Trafford. Just about everything United threw at City here was half-hearted.

The noise levels rose marginally – and predictably – when it was Erling Haaland’s turn to disembark, but the City striker met the jeers with a broad grin.

There was a swagger and an air of self-confidence about the Norwegian as he made his way to the door, as if he knew exactly what was going to happen next. Deep down, the United fans probably did too.

Once we kicked off, they taunted him with chants of ‘Keano’ in tribute to the former United captain whose waist-high tackle on his dad here more than 22 years ago played a part in ending Alfie Haaland’s career. But when City were awarded a penalty midway through the first half, Haaland junior rammed the spot-kick past Andre Onana and the taunts down their throats.

‘People were singing ‘Keano’ to me. I don’t know why, but it was a nice celebration and a nice game,’ said Haaland afterwards, still grinning.

Erling Haaland scored twice as Manchester City cruised past Manchester United

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He headed City’s second and then set up the third for Phil Foden. Were it not for Andre Onana, he could have had a few more. The United keeper touched the ball off Haaland’s toes in front of goal in the eighth minute, somehow kept out a header on the stroke of half-time and thwarted him one-on-one in the second half. ‘I chipped it and he saved it with his head!’ marvelled Haaland.

But it’s still five goals in three Premier League derbies for Haaland. Only Sergio Aguero has netted more for City in the league, and it took the Argentine 13 games to reach eight.

Consider this: Haaland’s total of 11 league goals this season is equal to the entire United squad put together. And this is a striker who’s meant to be having a sticky start to the season.

No wonder Rasmus Hojlund was reluctant to be compared to Haaland after United’s Champions League win over FC Copenhagen in midweek.

The two Scandinavian strikers are at completely different points in their careers, just as City remain on a different level to United. In that sense, maybe a comparison is relevant.

City opened the scoring after Rasmus Hojlund was deemed to have fouled Rodri in the box 

After seven Premier League games since joining United for £72million in the summer, Hojlund has no goals. At the same after signing for City for £51.2m last season, Haaland had 11.

The Dane is one for the future, of course, and at least he continues to show a level of commitment and character missing in some of his teammates.

But Hojlund’s most telling contribution to the 191st Manchester derby was to hook his arm around Rodri in the 23rd minute which was picked up by VAR and led to Haaland’s penalty.

‘The penalty changed the moment,’ said Ten Hag, refusing to comment further.

When the 20-year-old was himself hooked in the 73rd minute after Ten Hag decided to replace him with Alejandro Garnacho, the decision was met with jeers of disapproval from the United fans for the second time this season.

‘I have to protect Rasmus Hojlund and I have to protect the team,’ added Ten Hag. ‘He is putting so much effort in pressing and fighting a tough opposition.

Haaland scored his first goal from the spot with a finish that left Andre Onana with no chance

‘He is not used to it, three games in a week. We have bench players and we know Garnacho can change games. That’s the argument why we take him off.’

There were similarities between this game and City’s win at Old Trafford in November 2021: a 2-0 battering if ever you saw one. This was equally one-sided, equally humbling for United. There were painfully long periods when they just couldn’t get the ball.

Bernardo Silva was their tormentor in chief and the little Portuguese was voted man of the match despite Haaland’s contribution.

‘I love you, like Pep does,’ said Haaland, handing over the award to his teammate.

Indeed Pep does. ‘Everybody loves Bernardo, and he played another exceptional performance. He’s one of the best players I’ve ever seen in my life and I am lucky to train him,’ gushed the City boss.

‘He doesn’t wear earrings or tattoos, no big cars, he doesn’t dress for high style, that’s for sure. He’s humble, and everybody loves him in the locker room.

‘We were scared to lose him (in the summer). He’s irreplaceable and many things are replaceable. He’s an incredible player for us. He loves to play in Old Trafford too.’

Man City boss Pep Guardiola celebrates after his side’s dominant victory at Old Trafford

At the end, Guardiola left the pitch locked in one of those animated conversations with Haaland where you’re never quite sure if they are having an argument.

Turns out they were talking about Haaland’s decision to guide his header past Onana rather than going for power like he did before half-time.

‘It’s a great header but you don’t need to be talking about it for five minutes,’ said Roy Keane sourly on Sky Sports. ‘Get down the tunnel. It’s for show, that.’

After Haaland decided not to go for his hat-trick after Onana parried Rodri’s effort in the 80th minute and unselfishly crossed for Foden to score the third, the City fans did the Poznan. Many United supporters just did one, as they say in these parts.

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