Chapter 5: A Thumping Win at Old Trafford

The Manchester City team bus pulled up to the iconic Old Trafford stadium, the scene of many a battle between the city's two rival teams. The players were in high spirits, still buzzing from their hard-fought win at Anfield the previous week. Messi, sitting at the back of the bus, was focused on the task at hand, his mind tuned in to the game plan that Pep Guardiola had laid out for them. As they stepped off the bus and onto the lush green pitch, the Manchester United fans were out in force, creating a cauldron of noise that was synonymous with Old Trafford. But Manchester City was not intimidated, and they took to the pitch with confidence and purpose. The whistle blew, and the game was underway. Manchester City dominated from the start, with Kevin De Bruyne pulling the strings in midfield and Foden causing problems for the Manchester United defense. Messi, as usual, was a constant threat, his quick feet and agility allowing him to beat his marker with ease. The first goal came in the 20th minute, with Foden picking out a pass to Messi on the edge of the box. The Argentine great took a touch, and with his trademark precision, slotted the ball past David de Gea and into the bottom corner. The Manchester City players celebrated with Messi, who was mobbed by his teammates as he grinned from ear to ear. The goals kept coming, with Manchester City adding a further three before halftime. De Bruyne curled a stunning shot into the top corner, and Foden added a second with a low-driven finish. The fourth goal was a Messi masterclass, as he beat three defenders with his quick feet before slotting the ball past De Gea. The second half was more of the same, with Manchester City dominating possession and adding further goals to their tally. The final whistle blew, and the scoreboard read Manchester City 6, Manchester United 0. The Manchester City players were ecstatic, and Messi was overcome with emotion, hugging his teammates and coaches in celebration. As they made their way off the pitch, Pep Guardiola was beaming with pride. "This is what we are capable of," he said in the post-match press conference. "When we play like that, we are unstoppable." Messi was quick to praise his teammates, saying, "We played an incredible game, and everyone contributed. It's a great feeling to be part of this team." The win over Manchester United sent shockwaves through the football world, and Manchester City's title credentials were firmly established. But Messi knew that there was still a long way to go, and he was already looking forward to their next match against Chelsea. The charity match in Argentina was also looming large, and he was excited to give back to his community. The future looked bright for Manchester City, and Messi was at the forefront of it all.