Old Trafford staged the 199th Manchester derby on Sunday evening as Manchester United welcomed their city rivals, Manchester City.
The Cityzens have made a perfect start with three wins from three league games. Unpredictable as they remain under Enzo Maresca, this promised a stern test for Michael Carrick and his side.
Unfortunately, they failed to do so, falling to a frustrating 1-0 defeat against ten-man City, with Erling Haaland grabbing the only goal.
There was plenty to pick from this game; here is what we learned:
False 9 gimmick not working
Carrick missed a trick by not starting Benjamin Sesko against City. His goal off the bench against Everton, followed by another against Sabah FK, should have convinced Carrick to hand him a starting berth in the derby.
Having impressed off the bench so far this season, Sesko surely deserved his chance to start. Yet Carrick continues to persist with Matheus Cunha as a false nine, despite the outcry over the Brazilian’s ineffectiveness in the role.
If United insist on playing a false nine, Cunha clearly is not the man for it. Carrick could instead push Bruno Fernandes further forward to overload the midfield, or trust Joshua Zirkzee, who came on Thursday and showed real quality.
Either way, Sesko now needs a place in the starting line-up; United’s attack desperately craves the focal point he provides.
First red card in a Manchester derby in a decade
Manchester derbies have rarely lacked fire over the years. Yet, it is striking that before Phil Foden saw red for lashing out at Fernandes, Marouane Fellaini was the last player sent off in this fixture, back on 27 April 2017 at the Etihad, in a goalless draw.
Play with urgency, find a way to break down stubborn defences
United look dangerous when they play with urgency and toothless when they do not. In this game, their intensity off the ball was poor, and they moved far too slowly, particularly in the first half.
Carrick needs to get this team moving the ball quicker, with sharper passes and better runs, to force opponents out of their defensive shape.
Otherwise, the compact, well-organised defences of teams that can hit United on the counter will remain their Achilles heel.
Cunha and Dalot struggled
Cunha is struggling to make an impact as a false nine. He drops deep, gets in teammates’ way, and drifts from where he is needed most; he was frustrating to watch.
Carrick had found him a role on the left; it is time to return him there, even if it means competing with Rashford for the spot.
This result should force a rethink at Old Trafford. If Carrick can deploy tactics that bring out the best in these players, he can still turn the tide and steer United back towards the top positions they ought to be challenging for.
Featured image by Michael Regan via Getty Images
