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Buoyed by the fantastic win over Tottenham Hotspur in midweek, Manchester United travelled to the Etihad with the belief that they could get a positive result away from their noisy neighbours. The Red Devils had put up a show in the last game, refusing to let Jose Mourinho’s return to Old Trafford take centre stage. United were almost perfect all around the pitch and dominated Spurs to secure all 3 points. It was up to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, now, to get a record straight on Saturday.
The Red Devils had failed to win 2 consecutive games this season, but Wednesday’s victory managed to embed seeds of hope into the hearts of the United faithful. The Manchester Derby has hardly ever required any extra motivation, but a win meant a chance to inch closer to the top 4, especially after Chelsea’s defeat earlier in the day.
Pep Guardiola’s side were already trailing Liverpool by 11 points and were perhaps a bit vulnerable for the first time in recent years. The Norwegian knew he had a chance to wreck the Spaniard’s season and he named his first eleven accordingly.
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The game started at a frantic pace, but it was the away side who took the lead through Rashford in the 23rd minute. Martial then doubled the score for the Red Devils 6 minutes later. The game went into the break with the score 2-0 to United. After the break, City threw the kitchen sink at United, but the Red Devils held on right until the dying moments of the game.
Nicolas Otamendi got a goal back for the home side in the 85th minute, setting up a frenzied last few minutes. However, United managed to hold on and won the game 2-1. Every player put in a stellar shift on the night, but Solskjaer will be mighty pleased with the performance of these 5 men, who were brilliant against City.
5. Fred
The Brazilian was one of the best players on the pitch against Tottenham in midweek. Fred relished the presence of Scott McTominay alongside him in the middle of the park, as it allows him to play his natural game. He had the Scottish midfielder for company once again, against City, and put in another reminder of his quality on the pitch.
Fred worked tirelessly in the middle of the park and should have even picked up an assist when he gloriously set up Rashford in the first half. He denied City the chance to get comfortable in the middle of the pitch and his intelligence was key to United breaking away at speed.
The Brazilian also shielded his defence with his life and battled right till the end to help United gather all 3 points.
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4. Aaron Wan-Bissaka
The Englishman had his task cut out against the might of City, especially at Etihad, but he had every reason to back himself ahead of the game. Aaron Wan-Bissaka has been one of United’s most consistent performers since making the move to Old Trafford in the summer. The Englishman would have been excited to make his debut in the Manchester Derby, but he also knew he had to deal with the cunning Raheem Sterling on the night.
Wan-Bissaka kept a close eye on his countryman for the entire game, ensuring that Sterling posed very little threat to the United backline and had a quiet game. The former Crystal Palace defender did not just defend his position, he even helped out his teammates, covering on numerous occasions for his center backs. His last ditched tackles and positional awareness ensured that very little went past him in the entire game.
Even though the Englishman was partly at fault for the City goal, it was the only mistake Wan-Bissaka committed in the entire game. He was crucial in the last few minutes after City reduced the deficit and his interceptions coupled with his clearances helped United secure 3 points.
3. Anthony Martial
The Frenchman picked up an injury last weekend and watched from the stands as United made light work of Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham Hotspur in midweek. Solskjaer had earlier stated that Martial would play some part in the Derby, but the Frenchman recovered fully to start the game. And his presence in the team turned out to be a huge boost for the Red Devils.
Martial was a part of the fiery front three that caused City trouble every time United gained possession. Martial held the ball pretty well and brought Rashford and James into play. He also dropped a little deep to get more involved in the build-up play. The City defence struggled to deal with his movement and clever runs and paid the price in the 29th minute.
The Frenchman had a few neat exchanges with Daniel James, gave Rodri the slip and received the ball back from James just inside the box. Martial then unleashed a low, accurate shot that sneaked in off the upright and gave United vital breathing space.
2. Scott McTominay
The Scottish midfielder's return to the first team instantly turned their performance and fortunes around. McTominay’s dominance in the middle of the park was vital against Tottenham and the young man was fit enough to start against City too. With the home side keeping the majority of the ball, United had to be alert and decisive on the field. The Scottish midfielder led the charge for his team, running around like a man possessed, refusing to surrender.
McTominay provided an effective screen ahead of the United backline, protecting them and cutting out space for the City midfielders to operate. He pressed the ball relentlessly and played close attention to David Silva, ensuring that the Spaniard had a quiet night. When he had the ball at his feet, he wasted little time to send his forwards free, countering City’s tactics. His awareness of his teammates helped United break at speed and take advantage of the spaces left behind by the City team.
After United took the lead, the Scottish midfielder continued to work his socks off, even putting his body on the line to protect the lead on a couple of occasions. He also won free-kicks at important junctures of the game to stop City from gaining momentum.
1. Marcus Rashford
After his fantastic display against Tottenham Hotspur, Rashford was one of the players to watch out for in the Derby. The Englishman has been an important figure in recent fixtures against City and has gather experience beyond his years regarding the essence of this rivalry. Rashford perhaps also relished the chance to test his mettle against one of the best teams in the world.
The Englishman started the game very well, tracking back to help Luke Shaw and also ensuring that Kyle Walker was always on his toes. On the counter, he was blisteringly fast and certainly the away side’s biggest threat. In the 23rd minute, Rashford showed clever feet to bomb into the box, only to be brought down by Bernardo Silva. VAR intervened to award United a penalty. Up stepped the Englishman and calmly sent Ederson the wrong way to put United ahead.
Rashford continued to pose a problem on the break for City and had two glorious chances to score in the first half. He also rattled the crossbar on one occasion. After the break, as City piled on the pressure, Rashford played a vital role as the outlet for the ball. He also dropped back and fought shoulder to shoulder with his teammates to grind out the result.
