The History Behind The Historical Manchester Derby
The whole drama began on November 12th of 1881 when Newton Heath (later to become Manchester United) visited West Gorton (later to become Manchester City). Newton Heath won the game 3-0, but there wasn't anything special in this fixture because both were just part of a bunch of clubs in Manchester.
However, as the years progressed, both clubs grew in stature and were recognized as two of the best in Manchester. The Manchester Cup was more of a two- horse affair as either Newton Heath or Ardwick (City) who would win it every year.
In 1891, both clubs made significant progress by joining the Football League - with Newton Heath joining the First Division and Ardwick joining the second league. Prior to the World War, fans would watch both teams and rejoice them both.
But as time progressed, supporting them both became uncommon and rivalry emerged between these two. A rivalry that has never looked back since.
Throughout the 1970s, the Manchester derbies were mostly ill-tempered ones. Tackles flew on the pitch and the golden generation of Manchester would remember the incident of George Best breaking the leg of Glyn Pardoe with a ferocious tackle, one that could have lost Glyn his leg.
Another famous incident would be 'The Day Dennis Law back heeled United into the Second Division'. The Red Devils were fighting relegation and it was the last game of the season. Coincidentally, the faced local rivals Manchester City on the final day with a win needed to secure their top-flight status.
However, in the 80th minute of the game, Dennis Law who was a former United great then playing for City, back heeled a Francis Lee ball into the net to give City the lead. While his City fans congratulated him, Law turned sour, realizing the consequence of his effects to the stature of his former team. He then later described that weekend as the most depressing one in his life.
Time progressed immensely and so did the rivalry. City beat United 5-1 in September 1989 and little did they know that it was going to be their last victory in the derby for a long period of time. The Sir Alex Ferguson era kicked in and it all went United's way for the next 12 years.
While there were entertaining draws like the one in Maine Road in 1991 that ended 3-3, most of the games in that span of time were won by Manchester United. Ryan Giggs scored the first goal of his career against City in 1991 too.
Manchester United kept on ruling derby matches and Eric Cantona was often a derby hero during his time at Old Trafford with 8 derby goals in four seasons. Andrei Kanchelskis was the hero of the derby in 1994 with a heart pounding hatrick against City. The start of a new millennium in 2000 was the beginning of a renewed rivalry between Roy Keane and Alf-Inge Haaland.
The latter launched a ferocious tackle on Roy Keane while playing for Leeds United three years before that, and Roy Keane earned his revenge in the 2000 derby against City. The tackle earned Keane a red card and Keane later admitted that the tackle was meant to injure him.
Manchester City finally won their first game in almost 12 years against Manchester United when Nicolas Anelka scored the winner to give Man City their first win in their new stadium.
The Improvisation At Manchester City
As the years passed, Manchester City who were often shadowed by the local neighbors, improved much to the delight of their suffering fans. They began playing better and posed more threat during derbies between the two Manchester clubs.
Kevin Keegan was a success during his time there. 
After he left, Stuart Pearce tried his luck. Then came the Thaksin Shinawatra reign. This was the beginning of the new City revolution. Manchester City did the double over United for the first time in almost 35 years in 2008 under Sven Goran Eriksson.
After seeing the promising Thaksin era vanquish into nothing, the Qatar Royal family took the throne at Eastlands and Mark Hughes was drafted in - with the signing of Robinho on deadline day in 2008 signaling their intent. This beginning to a new era signaled a whole new level of intensity in the Manchester Derby.
In 2009, the whole world was silenced by what they saw at Old Trafford as Manchester United beat City 4-3 in a thrilling encounter. It was labeled as the best ever Manchester derby by Sir Alex Ferguson. In April 2010, Paul Scholes scored an injury time winner to win the game for United in another thrilling derby.
Nowadays, City are no more playing the second fiddle to United. They are now a force to be reckoned.
The Manchester United-Manchester City Derby: What It Means To The World
The Manchester United-Liverpool fixture is always iconic; it is the battle between two of the greatest teams in English football's history. Even the Merseyside Derby has its own flavour. However, none of them match the Manchester Derby when it comes to drama, intensity, tension, hype, fear and loathe. The Manchester Derby has them all.
I still remember getting excited as a kid whenever a derby was just around the corner. Proudly, I can say I still feel the same now. There is an aura about this blockbuster. Something special about it.
While these derbies used to be mostly one-sided affairs, times have changed.
Now there is a gripping sense of tension whenever these two teams meet. It was all too easy for the Red Devils back then but Man City have eliminated their sense of inferiority and Sir Alex has since admitted that they are serious title contenders.
The Manchester United vs Manchester City Derby: Conclusion
The stage has been set. Manchester United are five points ahead of City as the derby looms ahead. For the first time since the 1960s, the Man City- Man United derby will directly affect both teams' title ambitions.
That doesn’t happen anymore on Merseyside and it hasn’t happened for half a century in the Midlands or the north-east. Chelsea versus Arsenal is about the title every season, but the supporters of both those clubs will admit that game is not even their number one derby.
Manchester United vs Manchester City is exactly that, but its significance now stretches way beyond El Clasico... arguably, of course. Some might say that El Clasico is probably the IMMORTAL ONE among all derbies.
But what we have in the Manchester Derby is a tradition. A tradition that started way back in 1881. A tradition that everyone aspires to be a part of.
Manchester United vs Manchester City: Bring it on!
