Why Manchester United Lose to Manchester City

The major highlight to the Sunday game was Manchester Derby. Unbeaten on 13 games with all of those, Manchester City traveled to Manchester United for the most probably title decider of the premier league in early December. City were 8 points ahead without defeat in previous 13 games.

With Sane, Silva , De Bruyne all starting for the Manchester City, Paul Pogba was one of the major absentees for the Red Devils. The winner of the match was Manchester City with 2-1  !! Silva, Otamendi to Rashford for the Red Devils. The major points that I analyzed that United loss to City may be because of the following reasons :

Long Ball Strategy

The major failure to win the match was based on long ball strategy. City were not even at their best to win this encounter and gain a 14th successive league victory, a Premier League record. the united strategy was based only with the intention of trying to spring quickly on the counter-attack. It did not work as United were under constant pressure, hurried into playing the ball long and spending most of their time trying to track the movement that city were in the front in the form of Jesus, Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane.

Striker Low Confidence

Lukaku low confidence seems to have harm their team performance also. Lukaku is the type of player who would like to play the ball to him to slot the goal into the net. But the linkup play with mid field player and the striker is not so good which have harm his confidence while not getting the goal. The major miss in the later stage with double good save from Ederson was the only chance Lukaku really had in the whole game. And the two mistakes that he made leads to the goal to the Manchester City

One Man Midfield

Last but not the least the major problem is the playmaker. Manchester United is relying on Pogba from the beginning of the season. Manchester United lacks player that have dynamic dribbling movements and cover large amounts of space while maintaining strength and balance as Pogba runs at opponents. If Pogba is not playing United strategy is based on long ball. No one was able to dictate the midfield in Manchester Derby in which De Bruyne and Silva outclassed and bossed against united midfield.

These are the points that I analyzed after the game. If you have any other views do comment ! Thank you !!