Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP)

Manchester City, the title holder, had a three-quarter leg in the League Cup final after the lesson inflicted on Old Trafford at Manchester United (3-1) on Tuesday in the first leg of the semi-final.

If we can consider that the title of champion is lost for the men of Pep Guardiola, they have made it clear that they do not intend to return their two other domestic trophies.

To erase the insult of the home defeat (2-1) in the league a month ago today, the Catalan coach had opted for an eleven with no real center forward.

A system that he likes and has used in all the clubs he has coached.

This time, it was Bernardo Silva who stuck to the role of "faux-neuf" and he was breathtaking in the first period, opening the score with a magnificent strike in full skylight (1-0, 17th), before to perfectly launch on 2-0 Riyad Mahrez, who dribbled David De Gea and scored in the empty goal (33rd).

It must be said that United crossed an abyssal void for 45 minutes.

Faced with the package of Harry Maguire in central defense, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had decided to revive Phil Jones, who had experienced hell at Sheffield United in late November, before being replaced at the break.

He finished the game this time, but was behind on almost everything.

He was too passive against Silva on the first goal, covered Mahrez on the second and bit full on the feint and Kevin de Bruyne's hook on the third goal, scored against his own by the Brazilian Andreas Pereira, after a parade by De Gea (3-0, 38th).

But he is not the only one to bear the blame for this first failed act.

The Red Devils were hoping to repeat the performance of the championship game in which they tore apart the opposing defense for the first half hour, taking advantage of any ball recovered to throw quick blocks.

But City this time managed to limit its loss of bullets during the construction phase, removing all cartridges from its adversary in this area.

It is not certain that the players in red would have benefited from the lack of fighting spirit and determination displayed before the break.

In the second half, Solskjaer's men were more aggressive and consistent, reducing the score by Marcus Rashford to 20 minutes from the end (3-1).

But the return match in two weeks to Etihad looks like an impossible mission for United who will have a hard time reaching the final on March 1 at Wembley.

The other semi-final will oppose Aston Villa and Leicester with a first leg Wednesday at the latter.

© 2020 AFP