After weeks of turmoil and scrutiny, Manchester United have finally won a game.
They have finally won a game, and it’s come at the best possible time. Against their ultimate arch-rivals, and a team that has given them so many of their worst days over the past decade.
Embed from Getty ImagesThis feels like revenge for all of Haaland’s goals against the Red Devils at the start of the season.
It even feels like revenge for Aguero’s goal against QPR to win the title all those years ago.
This is, without hyperbole, one of Manchester United’s grandest days in nearly a decade. It’s Michael Carrick’s first game in charge of the club. It’s the return of so many of United’s best players. It’s the start of a new era that United fans will hope can lead to better times for the club.
Embed from Getty ImagesAnd with performances like that, we can’t forget that over the past ten years, Manchester United have always been best at playing on the break. This is where they achieved all of their success under Mourinho. This is where they achieved even greater success under Solskjaer.
Manchester United cannot compete with the likes of City, Chelsea or Arsenal by playing a possession-based game. Not at present moment.
Embed from Getty ImagesBut they can compete with any team in the league by playing on the counter, and racing forward at high speeds. If United were going to win against City today, it was always going to come this way.
And against so much of the criticism about United, Carrick didn’t try to do anything extraordinary. He just set up a team that would be difficult to break down, full of leadership, and full of attacking intensity on the break. And as a result of that approach, it could have been 4 or 5-0. It could have been that bad for the Citizens. United were that vivacious on the attack.
Let’s dive in.
MARTINEZ & MAGUIRE BULLIED HAALAND
Embed from Getty ImagesHarry Maguire has been one of the biggest misses in the past month. His leadership at the back is essential. Not to mention his ability to position himself, utilize his strength and power, and what he offers in possession.
Martinez, a much smaller but equally feisty defender, never backs down from a fight. He wants to get in the face of a player like Haaland. He wants to make matters difficult for a striker. So too does Casemiro.
Embed from Getty ImagesSo right off the bat, this was the best possible trio that United could use to screen passes into Haaland. They made it impossible for the Sky Blues to find Haaland, and then bravely defended with numbers around the ball whenever the big Norwegian picked up possession.
Martinez was active in stepping up whenever City tried to go direct into Haaland, and Maguire was dominant in the air, physical, and always in the right spot to cut out City’s centrality.
With this strong trio tracking Haaland and making the lives of players like Phil Foden equally difficult, City should have been more direct in taking United’s full-backs on. Diogo Dalot and Luke Shaw both picked up early yellow cards. Doku and Semenyo needed to be more courageous in dribbling directly at them and forcing their hand.
Embed from Getty ImagesInstead, they repeatedly would dribble for a bit, without much intensity, then cut it back inside. United would race back into position with everybody working hard to win the ball, and they would. Time and time again, in the middle of the pitch.
They then had all the firepower they needed, to sprint at the City defense.
UNITED’S FIREPOWER ON THE BREAK
Embed from Getty ImagesEvery time Bruno Fernandes picked up the ball, he looked ready to make something happen. His ability to drop into empty pockets of space and spread the ball wide to the wingers was unmatched by Rodri. Equally, was the way he drove at the City defense to play through passes at exactly the right moment.
United had not one, not two, but three goals disallowed from marginal offside decisions.
All of these moments were within seconds of winning the ball and breaking forward.
Mbeumo’s trickery and silky smooth touch was a welcomed addition to the attack, and Amad Diallo was willing to take on his full-back every single time.
Diogo Dalot had some nice moments of joining on the inside of Diallo, and Dorgu too had some nice moments of driving forward and winning fouls.
And after having two goals disallowed in similar circumstances, it was no surprise to see Bruno Fernandes charge forward on the ball, play the perfect pass, and Mbeumo to finish.
Embed from Getty ImagesBryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo were everything United have been missing in attack. So much attacking drive and skill. So much speed and power on the break. So much threat.
And Carrick was again brave in picking them both following AFCON. Matheus Cunha has had a great time recently. Benjamin Sesko has started to score more goals. But he went with both of the players who would undoubtedly cause a greater threat on the break, even if they were coming back on tired legs. He went with Patrick Dorgu too, who has been exceptionally positive as a winger for United in recent weeks.
Embed from Getty ImagesCarrick then went with the change around 70-minutes, getting Cunha to dribble and drive at tired legs. It was Cunha who set-up the second goal, after Amad Diallo’s tireless energy allowed the Brazilian to find space for the cross toward Dorgu at the back-post.
With all of these players fit and ready to play again, we can be reminded that United were never in a bad state when they had all these players fit and ready.
Cunha, Mount, Dorgu, Diallo, Mbeumo, Fernandes, Sesko. What an attacking unit that is for the Red Devils. Each can offer something different, and each can actually harmonize together in a powerful way for Carrick’s team.
Embed from Getty ImagesThis might not be the way they play against Sunderland or Brentford or whomever in which they can get on the ball and control the game. But against the other big clubs, this is the route forward for United. This is their route into the top four. And so much of the discourse needs to get off the “United way” and all aboard the train of what actually works for the players the club have at their disposal.
Embed from Getty ImagesIf Carrick can continue to put tactical performances like this together, it will be very difficult for the United board to turn him down at the end of the season.
Well done to Manchester United, and well done picking up a big win over the old rivals.
Thanks for reading and see you soon!
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