“We are top of the league,” was the celebratory chant booming out of one corner of Old Trafford at the end of the Women’s Super League’s Manchester derby.
But it was not Manchester United’s day, it was Manchester City, on the brink of a first league title in 10 years, who were in party mood.
Kerstin Casparij kissed and clutched the City badge as she ran to the away end after scoring City’s third goal in a commanding 3-0 win, while Alex Greenwood was enthusuastically applauded at every second-half corner she took in front of the travelling fans.
The returning Japanese stars in City’s team – fresh from winning the Women’s Asian Cup – were hailed one by one after full-time as the celebrations continued long after the final whistle had been blown.
City did not just win at Old Trafford, they humiliated Manchester United and enjoyed every minute of it.
And with one hand on the WSL trophy, who can blame them?
Two more wins from their remaining three matches will guarantee them the title unless their rivals drop points and they can claim the crown early.
“The weather wasn’t helping,” manager Andree Jeglertz joked as he began his news conference away from the swirling wind and rain.
But having witnessed what he described as “one of the best” first halves of football from his side, which saw them lead 2-0 at the break, he admitted he enjoyed himself.
He said it was “amazing to watch and be a part of” a game where his players executed the gameplan with “confidence and big belief”.
“Definitely, I enjoyed that,” Jeglertz added. “It wasn’t relaxing, because it never is for a coach, but I felt we had control of the game.
“The players were enjoying finding solutions to a lot of things. They created chances. It was a fantastic game.”
