Manchester United 1-3 Manchester City: 3 Men who were poor for the Red Devils | Carabao Cup 2019-20

#1 Jesse Lingard

Lingard's poor run continues

The Englishman has come for some heavy criticism from fans in recent times and had ended 2019 without a single goal. Solskjaer’s decision to put his trust on Lingard had raised a lot of questions, but the Norwegian had recently revealed his expectations from the player. Against City, the United manager wanted to utilize Lingard’s speed and movement to unsettle the opposition backline. However, the Englishman had a forgettable day on the pitch.

Starting in his usual No. 10 position in the United team, Lingard was largely ineffective and failed to contribute to the team’s cause. His first touch was poor and he could not create too many chances in the final third. Many of United’s counter-attacking moves were nipped in the bud because the player was too casual with the ball at his feet. Around the box too, Lingard’s touch, passing and movement left a lot to be desired.

In addition, the Englishman also failed to keep tabs on Rodri at the base of the City midfield. The Spaniard, as a result, had a field day on the night and the City midfield was hardly bothered. Lingard was ultimately replaced by Matic at halftime, but by then, the damage had been done.