City played the game in 4231 with Stones, Ake, Gvardiol, Walker at the back, Rodri, Kovacic at the back, DeBruyne at the attack, Foden at the wings, B.Silva, Haaaland up front
In fullback Varane, United lined up a special array of Lisandro Martinez, Dalot, Wan-Bissaka, midfielders Amrabat, Mainoo, McTominay, and up front Garnacho, B fee, Rashford
Basically, United have different ways of lining up on different sites, but the short version is that they actually put a lot of emphasis on defensive counter-attacks, relying heavily on Rashford and Garnacho to prepare for counter-attacks that
As the game started, Manchester United started to make high tackles. They planned to start influencing City's goals from the back. They didn't want City to be able to start an organized battle without any problems once they got past the halfway line, the
Manchester City started with some offense but then slowly slowed down. United put three attackers evenly in the center line. If they start pressing here, they will also press up front. However, United didn't seem intent on stealing the ball, which slowly affected City's offense
City couldn't organize their attack as quickly in this game as they have this season. In general, they didn't run fast enough. They kept trying to get the ball to B.Silva, but when the right wing got the ball, the attackers in front of them didn't run enough, didn't slant enough, as if they were just waiting for B.Silva to invade the box and force a cross, which gradually made City's offense monotonous
United's all-round running gradually and effectively contained City. City seemed unable to play at their own pace. Surprisingly, on 28 minutes, Dirnt sprinted up 20 yards to receive the ball from a long pass at the back. At this point, City defender Gvardiol gave chase and the keeper welcomed him. He could have easily cleared the ball but Gvardiol didn't seem to be looking at the keeper's position so he pushed the ball straight over the top of the keeper. As a result, Dirnt was almost out of the box. At this moment, there was no time to react. The top of Dirnt's head was completely over the keeper and Dirnt went straight up the pitch
Surprisingly, City made a serious mistake here. Worst of all, Gvardiol inexplicably pushed the ball back over the top. As a result, United are comfortably ahead
United's confidence grew after the goal and City tried to counterattack but simply couldn't get a rhythm going. United then attacked on 38 and Garnacho had the ball on the right. City's defense retreated deep resulting in an exposed belly at the front of the box.Garnacho put the ball in the middle.B fee came up and could have shot but he saw the chance and flicked the ball to the left and Mainoo pushed it home with ease from 8 yards!
City's defense is in disarray. It was Walker's turn to go wrong on this ball. He ran back from the start, but he didn't seem at all intent on catching up with Mainoo's jogging. mainoo was in front of him the whole time. walker's judgment in finally speeding up to make the interception seemed to be completely slow. As a result, Mainoo is unguarded from start to finish and Walker is in very different form
City ended the first half without playing anything, Guardiola replaced Ake, Kovacic for Akanji and Doku straight away in the midfield. the substitutions were right on the money. Strengthening the one-on-one defense on the line of scrimmage. Kovacic in midfield wasn't doing the job of protecting the line, which didn't help the forward attack, so it allowed Doku to come straight up and break down the left side
Doku came up with a blitz that really worked. United were in disarray for a while and on 54 minutes Doku popped up with a cross into the box which central Foden deliberately missed.Haaland hit the crossbar with a left-footed shot from the right 13 yards in one of City's few beautiful attacks.
Pep Guardiola traded DeBruyne for Alvarez for 56 points. it was clear that he intended for Doku on the left to force his way into the box, then cross, and then force a score with Alvarez and Foden's forwards into the box and Haaland's triple. Thus, winning DeBruyne with a passing function fully translates into impact mode
This strategy did work. Manchester United gradually became unbearable. Man City have been creating offense since then, but they also have problems. City seemed to let Doku charge alone, but there were no teammates around to support him. For example, when Doku gets the ball on the left, a teammate should come diagonally to receive the ball, but City leaves all the left side to the box empty for Doku to charge, and then the fullbacks don't come to pick up the fullbacks, allowing Doku to come back. So all United could do was concentrate on defending Doku, Wan-Bissaka didn't step up at all, Garnacho came back into the defense, and even Amrabat came close to the spot. after Doku played, he played almost three games alone. When he couldn't break, the left back should have stepped up or at least let Doku back in, but City didn't have anyone through at all, which made it difficult for Doku to generate a break, or even pass to a nearby teammate, and the ball was hit several times
