It took Manchester United 35 minutes to “get past the halfway line”. A change of tactics helped, but it didn’t result in a goal

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was the only coach in the Premier League who had a positive record with Pep Guardiola, only that is not the case after the 2-0 defeat. The Norwegian coach has failed time and time again to prepare his team to be an evenly matched opponent. After all, such a performance against Manchester City could be expected from Norwich, not from United!

Another hopeless performance by Manchester United. On the other hand, we have already witnessed several similar ones this season. It took Solskjaer’s boys practically 35 minutes in the Manchester derby before they could get past the halfway line and at least stay there for a while.

Moreover, Pep Guardiola’s charges were able to take advantage of this superiority very early on when Eric Bailly knocked a centre into his own net in the 7th minute.

Manchester United then managed not to score despite the overwhelming dominance of their opponents until the 45th minute, when Joao Cancelo’s centre fell through to the back post, where Bernardo Silva found it and the score was 2-0.

Solskjaer’s switch to three defenders was tragic again and again, but this time the return to the traditional 4-2-3-1 was not due to injury, but the Norwegian coach opted for it at half-time.

Right from the edge of the second half, a change could be seen as the Red Devils players were more active and even combined compared to the first 45 minutes. What’s more, they managed to do it in the opponent’s half as well, only they didn’t make anything out of it and it all ended up on Manchester City’s brilliantly working defence. Of course, the heavy rain didn’t help the home side either.

The only shot on target, sent in from a volley by Cristiano Ronaldo, was really not enough for the home team to enjoy at least one goal.

Manchester United thus increased its negative streak of home games without a clean sheet, currently at number 14. If it continues like this, it might even break the record streak of 21 games from 1958-1959.

Manchester United now face a two-week break, after which they face Watford. Whether or not Solskjaer will prepare them for the match cannot yet be said. However, he can count on criticism, as his charges have shown absolutely nothing!

Source: Premier League