Manchester Derby: City vs United
🔴 United's defensive strategy
🔴 Direct play through Rashford
🔴 Long ball from Onana
🔹 Doku vs Dalot
🔹 Foden, the star and the Game's Master
🔹 Rotations of Positions/Roles
🔴 United's defensive strategy
🔴 Direct play through Rashford
🔴 Long ball from Onana
🔹 Doku vs Dalot
🔹 Foden, the star and the Game's Master
🔹 Rotations of Positions/Roles
Ten Hag planned a defensive game, closing up and not allowing room for the opponent, forcing them to seek advantage in tight spaces to break through that system.
United was precise in vertical passes from his players to the fastest players they have (Rashford and Garnacho) with the idea of running in behind
Another idea was the long ball, one of their fundamental tools, from André Onana. The Cameroonian displays exquisite technique when putting the ball in the air to cut it with the instep and leave it in a zone of total danger for the opponent and his teammates.
This benefited him for Rashford's goal after a phenomenal pass for Bruno Fernandes.
By shielding the ball and turning, he managed to contain his marker and lay it off backward for a perfect shot from the English winger.
By shielding the ball and turning, he managed to contain his marker and lay it off backward for a perfect shot from the English winger.
ManU held the result for a long time through their solid defense in a compact space, forming a short block where they shifted and covered each other's marks to avoid gaps in the lines. Mainoo and Casemiro handled the cover of the midfielders' space.
In the first half of the match, Manchester City generated a lot of overload on the right flank where Foden and De Bruyne were positioned, with the idea that Doku would receive the ball completely alone and could exploit that peculiar imbalance he has over Dalot.
The overload of Manchester City players on the right side is followed by a quick switch field to Doku, aiming to catch Dalot out of position or out of sync with him.
His decision-making could have been more effective. The pressure to execute the key play likely impacted his decisions in the final third.
Despite this, he disrupted the defense, creating threats.
However, Dalot's had a good performance against Doku.
Despite this, he disrupted the defense, creating threats.
However, Dalot's had a good performance against Doku.
The pressure to finish excellently amidst criticism can lead to stumbling, doubts that prompt the opponent to close in, not knowing exactly when to pass the ball, impatience, and seeking opportunities at inopportune moments.
However, many of these were very good interpretations by the winger that ended poorly due to a technical error, but with a perfect idea.
Casemiro doubled down on the defensive pressure on Doku to cover the pass toward the center.
Dalot performed very well in his duel.
Dalot performed very well in his duel.
In many other instances, he had a very good way of finding his best players, Rodri, to isolate them in areas where they could deliver crosses for Foden, who headed towards the center for Haaland, who surprisingly failed to convert.
Pep's team's match was very good in possession: Incisive, & intense.
Possession was theirs, how they shifted it from one side to another to find spaces and free players, and their recovery through strong pressing.
The victory is largely attributed to how good Foden was.
Possession was theirs, how they shifted it from one side to another to find spaces and free players, and their recovery through strong pressing.
The victory is largely attributed to how good Foden was.
Order is a virtue for the Citizens.
As they constantly rotate, we'll see movements from the CM, wingers, and CAM without disrupting the order.
Foden and Bernardo as CAM, KDB and Julian on the flanks.
As they constantly rotate, we'll see movements from the CM, wingers, and CAM without disrupting the order.
Foden and Bernardo as CAM, KDB and Julian on the flanks.
Foden was already spoiling us in the first minute of the match, showing his eagerness to solve a play with a long-range shot, and he did it.
The goal that set everything as it should be was the rocket from the edge of the box into the top left corner.
Before this shot, City congested the ball and players on the left side, dragging many defenders to that area, leaving Foden with space & time
Before this shot, City congested the ball and players on the left side, dragging many defenders to that area, leaving Foden with space & time
Phil is a player who likes to have the ball at his feet; it's where he feels comfortable; it's his nature.
He tells KDB to take care of the wing while he positions himself in the central right flank, where he waves his arms, asking for the ball even with a player marking him.
He tells KDB to take care of the wing while he positions himself in the central right flank, where he waves his arms, asking for the ball even with a player marking him.
He knows his capabilities and can turn on that same player; he has various options for each action. He constantly insists on receiving the ball to be a protagonist in the game and to get even more involved and manage it.
So much so that in the 2nd goal, he changes his role from right winger to a CAM on the left to seek partnerships through passes and wall passes.
Julian understood everything to be able to return it to him in the center of the area for Phil to receive.
Julian understood everything to be able to return it to him in the center of the area for Phil to receive.
Perfect switch from Rodri to Foden.
Phil deceives, giving no vibes of predictability but quite the opposite; Lindelof is on his toes, uncertain of what he might do.
Meanwhile, Kevin decides to make a diagonal run, perfectly timing his movement to be another passing option.
The Englishman kept Lindelof guessing until the last minute whether he would dribble, drive, pass and reorganize, or play a penetrating pass.
His decision was the latter, a thorough pass to create that 2v1 against the Swedish defender.
Phil deceives, giving no vibes of predictability but quite the opposite; Lindelof is on his toes, uncertain of what he might do.
Meanwhile, Kevin decides to make a diagonal run, perfectly timing his movement to be another passing option.
The Englishman kept Lindelof guessing until the last minute whether he would dribble, drive, pass and reorganize, or play a penetrating pass.
His decision was the latter, a thorough pass to create that 2v1 against the Swedish defender.
Foden managed to break down pressure structures with just one dribble, shifting the ball from left to right to evade Rashford and then passing to Haaland to relieve the congestion caused by the Red Devils' players.
He was always a constant threat, being in the right moment, where he could shoot twice very clearly to take the lead in the score, but after two huge interventions by Onana, he managed to block.
After City made a great recovery from Manchester United's possession, De Bruyne found himself alone in the center circle, seeing his teammate Phil Foden running into space.
Evans tried to anticipate the pass forward and not behind him, which was the Belgian's perfect selection to leave empty spaces for Foden.
Evans tried to anticipate the pass forward and not behind him, which was the Belgian's perfect selection to leave empty spaces for Foden.
Analysis made by @Nicooromero10
Loading suggestions...