Man United exposed Man City's flaws

We knew Manchester United had pacy, clever strikers and could counterattack very effectively https://www.w88thais.com/latest-entrance-w88-mobile-android-ios/ . We knew they were coming off a confidence-building win over Tottenham Hotspur, too; that would matter less at some clubs, but with this manager and this group of younger players, it matters a lot. We knew that Manchester City had blown hot and cold of late, and we knew about their injuries (Leroy Sane, Aymeric Laporte, Sergio Aguero to name but three). But few would have predicted what we saw particularly in the first 45 minutes, when United created a host of chances against an opponent that looked shell-shocked for long stretches.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wasn't particularly sophisticated in Saturday's 2-1 win mainly because he has rather limited options. But then, he didn't need to be. A simple plan, well-executed, can be just as effective as the most innovative tactical blueprint. Having a striker like Marcus Rashford, who only turned 22 on Halloween but plays with intelligence and selflessness (to go with his physical and technical gifts) as well as the maturity that comes from taking on responsibility, makes things a heck of a whole lot easier. This is a different Rashford from the one we saw a few years ago. That one was a kid who thrived as a third or fourth option. This one is carrying the load.



Fred's performance in the middle of the park should also serve as a reminder that rarely do players simply "turn bad." The amount of abuse and criticism he received until recently may have been warranted by his performances, but it was unlikely that there was an absence of quality inside him, quality that in the right circumstances could be unlocked ww88 .


Pep Guardiola and Man City were rattled by Man United's simple, strong execution on Saturday, and it's clear things are not right with the defending champions. No need to panic, though. OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images
As for Manchester City, it's pretty evident that some things aren't quite right. The point made all year -- not replacing Vincent Kompany with a live body was a mistake -- still stands. When Laporte got hurt, there was no insurance policy, which means more stress and strain on Nicolas Otamendi, John Stones and Fernandinho. Also, more vulnerability on set pieces and counterattacks.

The injury to Sane, while mentioned less often, has also had a knock-on effect. It means Bernardo Silva having to play wide more regularly which, in turn, means more minutes for Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva in the middle. And that, in turn, means more fatigue, wear and tear and performances like the ones we saw Saturday.

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You can poke other holes too (the left-back situation, the fact that Gabriel Jesus' movement is very different from Sergio Aguero's) but perhaps what was most disappointing about Sunday was Pep Guardiola's inability to change things around in the second half. Riyad Mahrez for Bernardo Silva with 25 minutes to go and Ilkay Gundogan for Rodri in the final minutes aren't exactly bold moves. If anything, it felt like he was sending a message to his players: you got yourselves into this, you get yourselves out of it w88 line .


It's not a tragedy, it's not a crisis and it doesn't mean City need a massive summer rebuild, as some have suggested. It does mean Guardiola would be wise to make tweaks and figure things out. It's what he did at Barcelona and at Bayern, and it's what made him what he is today.

Credit to Man City for handling Fred abuse quickly
The racist abuse directed at Fred and the missiles thrown on to the pitch were a nasty reminder of what is still out there. What's encouraging is how quickly Manchester City took responsibility, issuing a strongly worded statement minutes after the final whistle, and how quickly the offender was dealt with. Arrested, named, shamed and suspended by his employer within 36 hours. A number of other countries could learn from this.

The objects thrown on the pitch (including the lighter that struck Fred) have received less attention. In fact, they ought to serve as a reminder for the price we pay for the sort of grounds we have in the Premier League. You're close to the action, there are no barriers, it looks wonderful on television and even better in person: equally, you're vulnerable and at the mercy of the occasional pond scum in the stands.