Both Manchester City and Manchester United were stuck in Champions League purgatory when they met for a second time in mid-April this season. City had lost three out of its five previous matches, and with it, any chances of catching Chelsea to repeat as league champions (they were closer to finishing fifth than catching the leaders at that point). More than that, their lazy performances - especially with off ball pressure as pointed out by Gary Neville - appeared to signal the last days of manager Manuel Pellegrini. The 102 goal machine engineered by Pellegrini last season was uninspired.   

On the other hand, something had clicked with their rivals United, having won eight out of their last 10 matches heading into the derby. Louis van Gaal replaced his preferred 3-5-2 formation with a more practical and familiar 4-3-3 that had the exponential effect that shored up the back four, created a cohesive midfield led by the suddenly indispensable Marouane Fellaini, and made Wayne Rooney the lone striker.

The scoreline of United’s 4-2 victory aside, it’s easy to forget how dominant City started the match. For 15 minutes, they rediscovered the quick passing and late movement into the box that defined last season. They only scored one goal in that time through Aguero, when they could have at least had one more. Then United found the head of Fellaini to start attacks (as Nick Miller noted in Guardian’s minute by minute report, their gameplan “seems to be to send Fellaini to the back post and aim for him”), a rejuvenated Ashley Young to finish them (man of the match from many outlets), and Michael Carrick (who dropped the mic by walking off the field late in the match) to control the tempo.

The scene was a stark contrast to five months earlier when United lost to City 1-0 with a late goal from Aguero. There were significant differences between that United lineup and this new iteration. Phil Jones and the steady Daley Blind were swapped into the left side of the defense for Marcos Rojo and Luke Shaw. That midfield three consisted of Blind and Fellaini holding for Adnan Januzaj. Angel Di Maria, Robin Van Persie and Wayne Rooney led the attack. You could hear van Gaal thinking out loud. This time around, he found his balance of speed, creativity, muscle and intelligence that should have carried the team through the end of the season. 

From Chelsea’s 15 goals in four matches to start the season, to Liverpool 12 match unbeaten streak, to Arsenal post-Coquelin, every side had a run of matches where they looked unbeatable. On April 12th, it was United’s, and Van Gaal’s moment. If his aim was to repair a broken squad in last summer’s transfer window, this summer’s aim will be to win a title.

While City recovered to finish second, Pellegrini’s lineup next season will have a different midfield engine from the side that played against United in April. That overhaul was probably one season too late. 

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With that, United landed the first blow of the summer by signing wunderkind winger Memphis Depay, no doubt buoyed by van Gaal’s Dutch connection (money and prestige never hurt either). Having spent over $200 million last summer, van Gaal is rumored to again have a nine figure transfer budget this time around. The names range from Gonzalo Higuain and Ilkay Gundogan to Mats Hummels, and the targets are clear: a striker, a technical midfielder to eventually replace Michael Carrick, a center back, and a keeper if David de Gea moves to Real Madrid. That’s in addition to Angel Di Maria, whose improvement next season will be worth a big name transfer in itself.

Next season appears to be a limbo year for City as the club waits out its contract on Manuel Pellegrini. But the problems with the side run deeper as the core of the squad is in the no man’s land between the ages 27 and 30. It’s an aging side in an era where pressing and athleticism are as valuable as ever. 

City’s best moves this summer will be scorching the midfield earth to begin anew. James Milner signed with Liverpool. Yaya Toure is rumored to be leaving. Fernandinho is 30 and will be coming off a summer playing in Copa America. When the two sides meet again in the Manchester Derby next season, City may line up an entirely different midfield to support Silva and Aguero.

Pellegrini is in a similar situation as Guardiola in terms of rejuvenating an aging roster this summer. But like Guardiola, Pellegrini could thrive in this role. He’s certainly done more with less, making his name at Villarreal and Malaga with a roster of flexible, overachieving midfielders, one playmaking genius, a clinical striker. He has two out of the three components. 

The derby last April showed both sides at their best, even if with City, it was only a glimpse - and a blueprint for this summer. Silva conducted City’s passing and movement while Aguero scored goals until United overwhelmed with power and pace. It was poetry battling geometry. And this summer, it’ll be up to Pellegrini to renew his midfield voice.