Sir Alex Ferguson attended United's 6-3 loss at Etihad.

After Phil Foden scored Manchester City's fourth goal against Manchester United on Sunday afternoon, Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea reacted angrily by punching the ground. After the embarrassing performance he turned in against Brentford, he did not believe he would turn the ball over four times in the space of half an hour again this season.

United's fans were housed in the Etihad's South Stand, so they were forced to watch as Foden danced with Erling Haaland in celebration in the corner after City scored those four goals in front of the South Stand. City scored those goals in the corner. There was a steady stream of fans who decided to depart the Etihad Stadium before the referee's whistle could put an end to the assault that was taking place because it was enough for some members of the away contingent to take.

The face of Sir Alex Ferguson then appeared on the screen of the television, and he gave the impression that he wanted to run out of the Etihad Stadium with the fans who were making a break for the exits. Ferguson instead went back into his box at halftime, and he emerged from it in a sheepish manner after the break. The performance brought back unwelcome memories of his team's own 6-1 loss to City at Old Trafford in October 2011.

The performance United turned in that afternoon was absolutely dreadful, and the loss was appropriately timed one week before Halloween. It was reported that Ferguson has refused to discuss the humiliating loss by a score of 6-1 since then; however, it is likely that he was thinking about it during the halftime break on Sunday.

Ferguson is known for making the infamous claim in 2009 that Manchester City would never be favorites heading into a Manchester derby. He did not believe that such a significant power shift in Manchester over the course of a decade would be possible, but it has been and that was a sobering realization this weekend.

United should not have conceded six goals in any football match, let alone to their rivals, and it was another unacceptable performance; however, these kinds of performances have become routine over the course of the past 18 months. Displays that were previously unacceptable are now permitted.

These saddening performances have unfortunately become the norm. Last year was the worst season in the club's history for decades, and there were countless post-mortems after defeats, such as when Liverpool and Manchester City embarrassed United both at home and away, or when Brighton scored four goals at the Amex and received no response. The low points have been nonstop, and unfortunately, they have made their way into this campaign.

Any TV producer worth their salt has found Ferguson sitting in the audience during one of those performances at some point. His reaction to the Liverpool catastrophe at Old Trafford the previous season went viral almost immediately, and the legendary 80-year-old was reduced to a state of fragility as a result. On that day, images of Ferguson show him looking desolate and almost unable to console himself.

His reaction at the Etihad Stadium this past weekend was different, and most United supporters were able to relate to that aspect of his performance. Instead of looking desolate, Ferguson's face was expressionless, as if it were covered in a blanket of disappointment, acceptance, and frustration.

Because there was no element of surprise, Ferguson was unmoved as his face was broadcast across the world. This served as a tangible symbol of just how far Manchester United have regressed since Ferguson retired, but Ferguson was unmoved by the image. It did not appear as though Ferguson was surprised by the final score.

This is a damning indictment of how far the standards at the club have deteriorated to the point where they are no longer acceptable. United was dissatisfied to draw in the Manchester derby during Ferguson's premiership, but they are now thankful that a half-time whistle was blown when they were down four goals. This saved them by providing protection in the locker room.

Since Sir Alex Ferguson stepped down as manager of United, the club has only brought home three trophies: the League Cup, the FA Cup, and the Europa League. In comparison, City has won a domestic treble all by itself in the 2018–19 season, which highlights the significant gap in quality between the two clubs.

The distinction between City and United lies in the fact that City operates like an elite football club and United believes they are an elite football club. The success that City has had in the Manchester derby is not a fluke; rather, it is the result of deliberate, methodical planning that has been carried out over time.

A fish rots from the head down, and United have been making consistently bad decisions for years, which has led to their team being vastly outclassed by their competitors. This year, Erik ten Hag will be tasked with leading United to greater success, but it already has the appearance of a glass ceiling being placed over the Dutchman's head.

The Glazers are horrible custodians, and in order to maintain their position as successful businesspeople, they make terrible choices for their company. They either do not know how to run a football club or they simply do not care as long as their dividends are paid, and this is ultimately the reason why embarrassing defeats like the one that occurred on Sunday have become the norm. They are to blame, and until they sell United, there won't be any significant change in the situation.

Some people believe that Ferguson should be held accountable for the shackling that the Glazers have placed on the club. He has never publicly criticized the Americans, despite the fact that they have obvious failings, and he is still involved at United to some extent. During Ferguson's reign, the Glazer family was one of the club's biggest supporters.

However, his voice would add a level of pressure onto the Glazers that has not been seen before, and it could be the catalyst for a change in ownership of the team. That is a decision that Ferguson will make, and that decision will be respected regardless.

At the Etihad Stadium, the final score of 6-3 was actually a bit of a miscalculation after goals scored by Antony and Anthony Martial in the second half. The final score did not accurately reflect the level of control possessed by the home team, but the performance did indicate where United stand in relation to the bigger picture.

The horrifying low points will simply continue to occur as long as the Glazers are in charge of the club; therefore, a change is urgently required.