One moment in time: The goal that came in from the fridge!

In partnership with

Manchester City F.C.

·15 January 2026

One moment in time: The goal that came in from the fridge!

Ahead of Saturday’s trip to Old Trafford, we go back into the archives and revisit a memorable 2-0 derby victory from November 2021.

Features

OneFootball Videos

Our last 10 Premier League goals at Manchester United

A trip to Manchester United is always a match that the fans ring on the calendar and it will be no different ahead of the 198th encounter this weekend.

It comes on the back of our superb 2-0 win at Newcastle United when Pep Guardiola was once again praising the qualities of Bernardo Silva following his display at St James’ Park.

Now in his ninth season at the Etihad, our captain has mesmerising individual ability that have often made the difference in big matches.

But he is also a huge team player and it seemed apt that nearly five years ago, he was the man to put the finishing touches to a great team goal that the boss said came after keeping the ball in the fridge!

The 2021/22 season would go on to be a classic head-to-head battle with Liverpool where we required an astonishing 93 points to clinch the title on the final day of the season.

So any slip-up could prove important and while United had been beaten 5-0 at home by Liverpool in their previous weekend, derby day is always a big test.

We were quick out of the blocks though and deservedly took the lead after eight minutes when Joao Cancelo’s dangerous cross was turned into the roof of his own net by Eric Bailly.

BUY TICKETS FOR CITY V WOLVES

David de Gea kept the home side in the game but we finally got a critical second shortly before the half-time break.

After a stray pass from Cristiano Ronaldo - 86 seconds, 26 passes and a touch from every City player later, we had doubled our lead.

It was Bernardo who got the final touch, turning home Cancelo’s deep cross at the far post from such a tight angle that much of the ground couldn’t believe it had gone in.

The goal was not the first or last time during the Guardiola-era of passing football, that every City player had touched the ball on the way to scoring.

Indeed, Ilkay Gundogan finished a 44-pass move in a derby at the Etihad almost three years earlier.

But to have the composure and coolness to do it at the home of our closest rivals showed the togetherness, confidence and understanding in the team.

It was a tactical masterclass and Guardiola explained exactly how that goal was in our thinking.

“We spoke about the fact they are a transition team,” he said. “We had to put the ball in the fridge - a lot of passes and at the last moments arrive.”

Let’s hope for more cool heads during this Saturday’s encounter at 12:30 (UK).