![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/static-assets\/images\/newsletter\/football\/football-thumb\/football-thumb.png\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Erik Ten Hag insisted Manchester United were still \u201con the up\u201d despite being comprehensively outplayed by rivals Manchester City in Sunday\u2019s derby.<\/p>\n
Erling Haaland struck twice \u2013 the first from the penalty spot \u2013 and Phil Foden added another as treble winners City eased to a 3-0 win in a one-sided Premier League encounter at Old Trafford.<\/p>\n
The result underlined City\u2019s superiority over their neighbours \u2013 the gap between the sides now being nine points after 10 games \u2013 and emphatically ended any suggestion United might have turned a corner after winning their previous three matches.<\/p>\n
Manager Ten Hag nevertheless put a on brave face on what proved a chastening afternoon for the club\u2019s fans.<\/p>\n
The Dutchman said: \u201cThe three games before we won and the spirit is very good. The fighting spirit is very good.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we are on the way up. The start was difficult, but now we are on a way up.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have to be patient, but I\u2019m happy some of our injuries are coming back and then our side will be stronger.\u201d<\/p>\n
When you see first half, it’s toe-to-toe. Just the penalty changes the game<\/p>\n
Ten Hag felt United were competitive in the first half, which they ended trailing only 1-0 after Haaland\u2019s 26th-minute penalty.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cWhen you see first half, it\u2019s toe-to-toe. Just the penalty changes the game.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut even then we could have got back in the game, for instance with that shot of Scott McTominay just before half-time.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, I think from chances it was very toe-to-toe.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ten Hag did admit, however, the second half was \u201cabsolutely not\u201d close.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cWe were losing and I decided to bring more offensive power in and we made a mistake that was not according to the game plan.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ten Hag repeatedly said he had \u201cno comment\u201d to make on the penalty decision, which was awarded for a foul by Rasmus Hojlund on Rodri following a VAR review.<\/p>\n
Opposite number Pep Guardiola claimed his side\u2019s victory had not been as straightforward as it looked.<\/p>\n
City strongly asserted their authority in the second period as an unmarked Haaland headed his second and teed up Foden for the visitors\u2019 third 10 minutes from time.<\/p>\n
Guardiola said: \u201cIt looks easy but it\u2019s not, really it\u2019s not.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a lot of respect for United, for what they do, but we were at our best, especially in the second half.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe second goal helped us a lot. We were saying at half-time they will be more aggressive and they were, but we made two incredible two build-ups.<\/p>\n
\u201cBernardo (Silva) and Jack (Grealish) made a good action and Erling scored the second goal. That was the key point of the game.\u201d<\/p>\n
Guardiola admitted he did not anticipate his side dominating the local scene as much as they have when he arrived in Manchester in 2016.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cI know what we have done. I don\u2019t know what United have done because I\u2019m not here, but I didn\u2019t expect it when I arrived here with Jose Mourinho, with (Zlatan) Ibrahimovic, with the top, top players of (Romelu) Lukaku and the squad.\u201d<\/p>\n