Man City Square
Fansided

Man United 0-2 Manchester City: Honoring Colin Bell

By J.C. Gonzalez

Manchester City players stand during a minute's silence in memory of English footballer Colin Bell who passed away yesterday the English League Cup semi final first leg football match between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on January 6, 2021. (Photo by PETER POWELL / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by PETER POWELL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Manchester City players stand during a minute's silence in memory of English footballer Colin Bell who passed away yesterday the English League Cup semi final first leg football match between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on January 6, 2021. (Photo by PETER POWELL / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by PETER POWELL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

In the first game since the tragic passing of club legend Colin Bell, City fittingly won the Manchester Derby to advance to the Carabao Cup final.

Manchester City will now play against Tottenham for the chance to win a record-tying fourth straight English league cup, but they do it with heavy hearts after the passing of club legend Colin Bell.

More from Game Review

To honor the King of the Kippax, City and United shared an emotional moment of silence before a match with crucial implications. After a goalless first half, John Stones took full advantage of a City free-kick to give the visitors the lead before Fernandinho sealed the win with an excellent long range strike. For the second consecutive year, City have knocked their rivals out at the semi-final stage, and will now contest their fifth league cup final in the last six years and their sixth in the last eight.

City’s dominance in this competition over the last decade is truly remarkable, but the symbolism of the win today is arguably more important than anything that happened on the pitch. Colin Bell is a true icon of the club, and beating United the day after his passing is arguably the greatest way this team could honor his memory and the role he played in the club’s history.

Next. Player Ratings: Manchester City comfortably beat Chelsea. dark

This is a major moment in the team’s season, and further proof of what has been an impressive recent turnaround. Winning a fourth straight Carabao Cup title was never the main priority of the season, but in a final against José Mourinho’s Tottenham who are desperately seeking a trophy, City will give everything they have. Today was an emotional day for City supporters, players, staff, and the club as a whole, but in the end, it’s on to another final for this club.