Manchester Metropolis humbled Manchester United with an emphatic 3-0 win at Previous Trafford on Sunday – however how did Pep Guardiola’s techniques assist his aspect cruise to victory?
The end result has ramped up strain on Manchester United supervisor Erik ten Hag, with the membership sat eighth within the Premier League desk and 11 factors adrift from league-leaders Tottenham after solely 10 video games.
Forged your thoughts again to January of final season and Previous Trafford was buzzing with optimism. Marcus Rashford had simply clinched a winner in a 2-1 victory in opposition to their ‘noisy neighbours’, as United claimed their fifth league victory in a row.
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That profitable streak was a part of a run the place they misplaced simply as soon as in 12 video games from early October till in direction of the tip of January. Ten Hag’s purpose for this season was to construct on the success of final time period – however United have regressed, quite than kicked on.
It’s turning into a standard theme in large video games for groups to tug United’s press round with minor changes to create house. Brighton, Tottenham and Metropolis seamlessly discovered methods round the best way Ten Hag set his group up with out the ball.
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FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Manchester Metropolis’s win in opposition to Manchester United within the Premier League
Silva exploiting the left wing
Metropolis pushed United’s again three as extensive as doable of their build-ups. This stretched United’s block extensive and lured them into making challenges.
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Erik ten Hag felt Manchester United’s recreation plan was good in opposition to Manchester Metropolis however his gamers made the mistaken choices as they have been crushed 3-0 at Previous Trafford
Central midfielders John Stones and Rodri have been lined by Christian Eriksen and Scott McTominay – with Sofyan Amrabat needing to trace the floating runs of Julian Alvarez. With United going man-for-man in the course of the pitch to dam central passing lanes, Bernardo Silva utilised the house extensive and mixed with Jack Grealish.
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Within the instance beneath, as Bruno Fernandes appears over his shoulder, cautious of Bernardo’s presence, he goes to make a sort out on Josko Gvardiol. When he’s unable to win the ball, Grealish is performed in extensive, whereas Bernardo darts to make a run into the half-space – within the hole between Harry Maguire and Diogo Dalot.
Eriksen now has to come back over to trace him, with Amrabat turning his consideration to Stones – as Alvarez occupies Maguire on United’s final line.
Even when Fernandes at proper wing senses the move is heading to Bernardo, the Metropolis midfielder pulls his Portuguese compatriot wider. It’s the identical state of affairs once more: United’s central midfield matches up with Metropolis’s.
Because the ball is performed out to Bernardo extensive, he can hyperlink up 2vs2 with Grealish.
Every time he does this, a United midfielder has to come back over and Metropolis can overload the half-space – this time with Stones.
These conditions allowed Metropolis to get into crossing positions near the touchline with ease far too usually.
Metropolis waited for Grealish to get the ball extensive as Bernardo would drift previous United midfielders to obtain down the road and cross. With United’s midfield pivot occupied by different gamers, equivalent to Eriksen on Stones, they might not come throughout to assist out.
Fernandes must be monitoring Bernardo, quite than declaring his run.
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Bernardo knew the place the house was throughout your complete recreation and exploited it all through. It’s why the second purpose got here from Bernardo overlapping Grealish in a 2vs1, crossing for Erling Haaland.
Within the first half, the identical state of affairs occurred and wanted a superb save from Andre Onana to maintain it out. Dalot was outnumbered again and again. Within the instance beneath, Dalot runs out to Grealish – just for Bernardo to make a run in behind United’s defence within the half-space.
Rodri and Stones motion
The motion of Metropolis’s central midfielders was the essential hyperlink between defence and assault.
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Initially, with Amrabat monitoring Alvarez and the move minimize off to Stones, United’s block just isn’t permitting the ball to be progressed centrally. Nevertheless, when the ball is performed to Gvardiol extensive, Stones frees himself up in house to obtain, with Eriksen interested in Bernardo extensive.
As Stones carries the ball ahead, Eriksen and McTominay at the moment are scampering again to shut him down – however it’s too late. Grealish has moved inside, turning into inverted to occupy Dalot, whereas Bernardo will be launched extensive. In a single easy transfer, Metropolis moved United to 1 aspect after which discovered gaps in midfield.
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Within the second half, issues grew to become simpler when Amrabat was subbed off for Mason Mount, as Rodri discovered more room. With Mount ball-watching on Kyle Walker, Rodri took benefit simply behind him in acres of house to obtain the ball.
McTominay is initially sticking to Bernardo, however then has to come back throughout to dam Rodri’s run. As this occurs, Fernandes must be sensing the move coming to Bernardo, however is late in doing so.
As Rodri passes extensive to Bernardo, Dalot is as soon as once more outnumbered 2vs1, with Grealish overlapping.
Rodri and Stones pushed as much as obtain the ball, attracting markers in direction of them earlier than passing to spare team-mates, because of the house they’d created.
Regardless of United’s accidents, it’s eye-opening that in the identical fixture final season Metropolis discovered it a lot tougher to open the Purple Devils up.
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As Manchester Metropolis’s gamers have fun a 3-0 win at Previous Trafford Gary Neville, Micah Richards, and Roy Keane give an trustworthy evaluation of how far Manchester United are behind their native rivals
If Guardiola’s modifications don’t work, Metropolis’s gamers are sensible sufficient to spontaneously sense a weak spot within the opponent and execute a plan to reveal it. Conversely, Ten Hag’s techniques usually are not reaping rewards from the get-go and the gamers are failing to regulate on the fly when required.
The strain is mounting on Ten Hag, who reportedly compelled his gamers to pay attention in silence to Metropolis followers’ celebrations after the humbling end result on Sunday. Issues don’t get any simpler, both: the Dutchman should now rally his aspect to face in-form Newcastle within the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, reside on Sky.