MARTIN KEOWN: City’s telepathic twosome will destroy United if they leave wide open spaces… and I cannot see the power shifting in Manchester as long as Pep Guardiola is in town
- United moved Sofyan Amrabat to midfield this week, leaving open spaces
- City will make them pay if they are stupid enough to do the same in the derby
- Is Bruno Fernandes good enough to be on the bench at Manchester City? Listen to the It all starts podcast
Manchester United may be hoping for a bright new future under Sir Jim Ratcliffe, but as long as Pep Guardiola is in Manchester I can’t see the bragging rights shifting from the blue to the red side of town.
Guardiola and his analysts will have studied United’s trip to Nottingham Forest and, like me, will have noticed how Sofyan Amrabat moved into midfield as an inverted left-back, leaving a three behind him.
That left Amrabat sitting next to Casemiro while Scott McTominay pushed up with captain Bruno Fernandes in the pockets behind Marcus Rashford.
Yet Forest responded by sending balls into the space vacated by Amrabat in an attempt to hurt United. City would love their opponents to send one of their full backs into midfield on Sunday.
We saw what Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland did to Luton and the ruthlessness with which they tore them apart during that FA Cup clash.
Erling Haaland (left) and Kevin de Bruyne (right) could destroy Manchester United in the derby this weekend
De Bruyne assisted four of the striker’s five goals in the FA Cup against Luton this week
Erik ten Hag’s side must ensure they do not leave open spaces in the team, as they did in their FA Cup match against Nottingham Forest
Luton tried to go man to man, a courageous strategy that ultimately failed. De Bruyne assisted four of Haaland’s five goals as City unleashed 17 shots, 15 of which were on target, a remarkable ratio that underlined their supremacy.
If United are stupid enough to leave such wide open spaces. Haaland will eat them alive, with De Bruyne providing the passes for him to chase down and bury.
Erik ten Hag has come out swinging in the build-up to this derby, calling it ‘pathetic’ that Fernandes is being criticized despite his play and insisting Antony can be ‘unstoppable’ despite the Brazilian not contributing a goal or assisting in the Premier League this season.
Ten Hag has done his best to protect his players and take the pressure when they lose, and the United manager hopes Sunday is the day Rashford and Co can offer him some respite.
Indeed, they face their fierce rivals at a time when Rashford is under serious scrutiny amid accusations of negative body language.
Kevin De Bruyne is expected to start the match after shining in midweek and following a rest last weekend
Sofyan Amrabat returned to midfield from left back, but Forest aimed for space
The trip to City could suit Marcus Rashford’s skills, with United dropping deep into the match
Yet This trip to City could suit the England man’s skillset. As a striker, he is uncomfortable playing with his back to goal, as he did in Forest’s FA Cup win as the visitors dominated the ball.
But Rashford won’t have his back to the goal this time. United will find themselves deep in a defensive shape when City have controlling possession and that will largely have them looking forward. When United win the ball, he can use his speed to counter-attack City and exploit any space.
That may be the best way, and indeed the only way, for United to leave the Etihad with a win.