THERE has been a degree of criticism levelled at Manchester United’s players for their anti-City singalong in the dressing room following their Europa League final triumph.

In a week in which standing together has been the defiant, defining message from Mancunians, the Jesse Lingard-led post-match dig at their rivals back home could be viewed as, well, just a bit crass.

The moaners need to get over it. I would not have had it any other way. The devastating events of this week rendered the final of one of the continent’s biggest competitions next-to meaningless. It is just a game, after all. A game between imported multi-millionaires, the majority of whom have no real comprehension of Boddingtons or the Stone Roses, of chips and gravy or the long-running saga of Mike Baldwin and Ken Barlow.

All talk of Champions League qualification became secondary. All starting XI predictions, all possible permutations, formations and tactics Jose Mourinho would employ against Ajax, seemed largely trite and inconsequential.

It was a huge European event which rightly went ahead in honour of those who lost their lives but which felt somewhat shallow.

The United manager had spoken of the importance of his players blanking out the tragic events that unfolded a stone’s throw from his temporary residence, and focus on doing their job to honour the deceased, to bring a smile back to a grieving city in the only way they knew how. Across town, his opposite number Pep Guardiola had also been all-too aware of the enormity of the attack. His family reportedly went to the concert but were among the lucky ones who returned home safely.

It is impossible not to have been moved by the solidarity shown by the city during and after Monday night, be they red or blue – club loyalties were cast aside as countless selfless acts were carried out by ordinary people in an extraordinary, horrific situation.

Despite their grief, indeed because of their grief, Mancunians joined together, though that was never going to last for long.

Because, as sure as eggs are eggs or it going dark at night, it is just how it is up here. That age-old club rivalry took little time to resurface, albeit slightly more good-natured than usual. I am glad about that. It means things are returning to some sort of normality.

Blues’ pre-match Twitter posts went mainly along the theme of ‘We really hope you lose, you so-and-so’s’ (though I have omitted some of the more choice phrases I saw), and Reds responded in kind, admitting they would not have it any other way, and they would be exactly the same had the boot been on the other foot. It meant, despite a maniac’s best attempts, life will continue – with the cut and thrust of football fans’ banter (and I do hate the ‘B’ word, but hey, just this once) ringing out in booming northern accents.

There is no stopping the ‘them and us’ involved in nailing your colours to a club mast. They are divided by their loyalty, but also rely upon each other as part of their identity. It is a city united but still willing each other to fail. Just as it should be.

Nice one.