Ander Herrera believes a half-time team talk about pride inspired Manchester United’s incredible second-half comeback in Saturday’s Manchester derby.

Three second-half United goals, two from Paul Pogba and a Chris Smalling winner, defeated Manchester City and denied Pep Guardiola’s side the chance to be crowned Premier League champions against their oldest rivals.

City looked set for a dream coronation after Vincent Kompany and Ilkay Gundogan put them 2-0 by half time, but Jose Mourinho’s visitors rallied after the interval to record a remarkable and memorable win.

Smalling later revealed that Mourinho had spent the half-time period warning his players they would look like ‘clowns’ if they allowed City to celebrate a title win against them.

Manchester City vs Manchester United ratings Show all 23 1 /23 Manchester City vs Manchester United ratings Manchester City vs Manchester United ratings Manchester City 2 Manchester United 3 Who impressed as Jose Mourinho's side produced a stunning comeback victory to postpone City's title celebrations? Getty Manchester City vs Manchester United ratings Ederson – 6 out of 10 Helpless for all three of United’s goals. Getty Manchester City vs Manchester United ratings Danilo – 6 out of 10 The Brazilian is clearly a significant downgrade on Kyle Walker, who was rested with Tuesday’s game against Liverpool in mind. Getty Manchester City vs Manchester United ratings Vincent Kompany – 6 out of 10 Scored City’s opener but lost Chris Smalling for United’s winning goal. Getty Manchester City vs Manchester United ratings Nicolas Otamendi – 5 out of 10 Involved in a flare-up with Paul Pogba after the break but it was the United man who had the last laugh. Getty Manchester City vs Manchester United ratings Fabian Delph – 6 out of 10 No notable contribution to the match in either an attacking or a defensive sense. Getty Manchester City vs Manchester United ratings Fernandinho – 5 out of 10 Should’ve seen red for a scything challenge on Jesse Lingard that sparked a mass melee after a City penalty appeal was turned down. Getty Manchester City vs Manchester United ratings Ilkay Gundogan – 7 out of 10 Scored a sublime second for City as he slotted home after a neat one-two with Raheem Sterling. Getty Manchester City vs Manchester United ratings Raheem Sterling – 6 out of 10 Has more than 20 goals for the season but he showed that he is not the most natural of finishers with a couple of poor first-half efforts. Getty Manchester City vs Manchester United ratings David Silva – 7 out of 10 Put two chances on a plate for Raheem Sterling with City 2-0 up but the England forward spurned them both. Getty Manchester City vs Manchester United ratings Leroy Sane – 6 out of 10 Usually so threatening but the talented German was quiet – even in the first half when City were so dominant. He did assist Kompany’s opening goal, mind you. Getty Manchester City vs Manchester United ratings Bernardo Silva – 6 out of 10 A lovely little operator but he was the first to be sacrificed after United took the lead. Getty Manchester City vs Manchester United ratings David de Gea – 8 out of 10 Gave the ball away in the build-up to City’s second but redeemed himself with a wonder save from Sergio Aguero late on to preserve United’s lead. Getty Manchester City vs Manchester United ratings Antonio Valencia – 6 out of 10 The one member of United’s back four who didn’t have a dreadful first half. Getty Manchester City vs Manchester United ratings Chris Smalling – 7 out of 10 It was a case of déjà vu for the defender as he lost Vincent Kompany for the game’s opening goal – just as he did in the same fixture in 2012... but United’s fans will let that slide after he came up with a memorable winner. Reuters Manchester City vs Manchester United ratings Eric Bailly – 5 out of 10 Widely regarded as United’s best defender but he can be erratic. He was all over the place as City ran riot in the opening period. Getty Manchester City vs Manchester United ratings Ashley Young – 6 out of 10 Struggled to contain Raheem Sterling in a poor first-half display but he, like United on the whole, improved dramatically after the break. Lucky to not concede a penalty for a rash challenge on Sergio Aguero, though. Getty Manchester City vs Manchester United ratings Nemanja Matic – 7 out of 10 Looked like he was running through treacle in the first half but played with a lot of energy in the second period. Getty Manchester City vs Manchester United ratings Ander Herrera – 8 out of 10 Handed his first Premier League start of the calendar year and was United’s best outfield player in a shambolic opening period. Maintained a good level after the break and produced a lovely chested assist for Pogba’s first goal. Getty Manchester City vs Manchester United ratings Jesse Lingard – 7 out of 10 Wasn’t as eye-catching as Pogba or Sanchez but this was another good performance by United’s most improved player of the season. Getty Manchester City vs Manchester United ratings Paul Pogba – 9 out of 10 Rocked up sporting another controversial hairstyle and delivered an atrocious first-half performance... but he more than made up for it after the break with a talismanic display and two goals. Getty Manchester City vs Manchester United ratings Alexis Sanchez – 8 out of 10 Like Pogba, the Chilean was poor in the first half but improved vastly after the break and made a key contribution to United’s first and second goals. Getty Manchester City vs Manchester United ratings Romelu Lukaku – 7 out of 10 The service to him was non-existent in the first half and he made his frustration clear with a cynical foul on countryman Vincent Kompany that earned him a booking. Led the line well after the break. Getty

Herrera, an impressive presence in midfield on Saturday, also claimed that the prospect of humiliation at the home of their neighbours drove United on to victory.

“Today was not about tactics. At half-time we just talked about the pride, about the club, this club you can never underestimate it,” he said.

“We didn’t talk too much about tactics, just about our pride. Our pride on the pitch and that our fans were going to have a difficult night if we got beaten. We did it for them, and of course for us and our position, but overall for them.

When asked which of his team-mates had spoken up at half time, Herrera said: “Everyone.

“Of course, the oldest guys with the most experience – Ash [Young], Mike [Carrick] was in the dressing room – they have the power in their words, but everyone was talking.”

On the contest itself, Herrera added: “I think the first 20-25 minutes was a balanced game. We didn’t suffer too much but after the goal of Kompany we came completely down.

“We played really bad the last 20 minutes [of the first half] and the best thing was the result at half-time. We were just 2-0 down. We came back and we’re very happy, but overall for our position because we want to finish second.

“You know better than me but maybe in the last five of the last 10 Premier Leagues, we could be fighting for the title.”

After Saturday’s victory United are projected to finish on 84 points, which would only be enough to win the title in two of the previous 10 seasons, but the win does help to lay down a marker for the next campaign.