Until United becomes less reliant on star players like Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford, improve their overall consistency, and develop multiple alternative ways of playing in games, City are likely to be the kings for a little while longer–even if United can hold Derby bragging rights for now.
Manchester City and Manchester United faced off against each other on Sunday, with both teams looking to extend incredible 21-match records. Manchester City headed into the Derby on a run of 21 consecutive victories in all competitions. At the same time, Manchester United were undefeated in 21 away league matches.
For one, it had to be 21 and out. In the end, it was United who won the match, and it was City’s unbeaten run that was brought to an end.
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But despite a third consecutive victory in all competitions away to their local rivals for United, City remain 11 points clear at the top of the Premier League and looks destined to become champions for the third time in four seasons. For United, the wait for a first title since Sir Alex Ferguson left in 2013 goes on. The question for Manchester United now is how to turn success in individual matches into success throughout a whole season?
The main issue for Manchester United is they are so heavily reliant on a few key players being at the top of their game week-in and week-out. Since the arrival of Bruno Fernandes in January 2020, United have been transformed. This is shown by his incredible record of 24 goals and 17 assists in the Premier League since he arrived. Sixteen of those goals and 10 of those assists have come in this season alone. The issue United has is without Fernandes. No-one else in their midfield can get near that level of influence. Paul Pogba, more often than not, flatters to deceive for all his hype, while players like Scott McTominay, Fred, and Nemanja Matic are all more defensive players.
Kevin De Bruyne (photo, Bangkok Post)
Meanwhile, at Manchester City, there is no doubt Kevin De Bruyne is their star player, as evidenced when he was injured and missed numerous matches. City have other players that can more than fill his void. Midfielders like Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, and Phil Foden have stepped in and kept the City winning machine going. This is shown by Gundogan being City’s top league goal scorer so far this season with 11 Premier League goals, while Foden, with six league goals, also currently has scored more this season than De Bruyne, who has 3.
Manchester United also struggles with consistently performing to the required high standards needed to sustain a title challenge. United had drawn their previous two league matches 0-0 with abysmal performances against Chelsea and Crystal Palace before Sunday. Sunday was their first victory this season against a traditional ‘big six’ rival, previously having lost at home to Arsenal and Spurs. Only managed draws against Chelsea twice, Liverpool, and in the home match against Manchester City.
This inconsistency is also prevalent amongst individual players. Anthony Martial was, in many people’s eyes, the man of the match on Sunday. However, he is currently on a run of no goals in six league matches since he scored twice against a depleted nine-man Southampton and has only scored four league goals in total so far this season. This is way behind the top goal scorers in the league and nowhere near the required standard for a title-challenging side. Sunday proved how good Martial could be, but his lack of goals has let United down for most of this season.
Manchester City, for their part, have also suffered from a lack of goals from a traditional striker with Sergio Aguero being injured for most of the season so far and Gabriel Jesus missing games and being in poor form when he has played.
United, meanwhile, are mostly reliant on their quick and pacey strikers in Martial, Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood, and Dan James. These all rely on the opposition to leave space behind their defence for them to exploit the counter-attack. United too often has is if the opposition defends deep and leaves no space behind, then the United attackers are all less effective. Manchester United too often this season has lacked an alternative way of playing, which has cost them important points. Like in recent games against West Brom, they drew and in defeat at home to the bottom of the table Sheffield United.
It won’t be easy and certainly won’t be cheap in the transfer market, as many will observe Manchester City’s current dominance is heavily backed by a lot of expensive transfers far beyond what most clubs can afford. However, until United becomes less reliant on star players like Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford, improve their overall consistency, and develop multiple alternative ways of playing in games, their “noisy neighbours” are likely to be the kings for a little while longer–even if United can hold the Manchester derby bragging rights for now.
