Dharnish

United's compactness was crucial in nullifying City, the front three tucking in and being compact in Amad Diallo and Mount/Fernandes meant there was less space for Gvardiol and Gundogan. It also helped in managing the two roaming 8's in Foden and De Bruyne

Whilst one of the 3 forwards tucked in to compact the space of City's 2 midfielders, Martinez stepped out to push up and close down De Bruyne. The work done by United's forwards was important because it decreased space in the middle of the pitch, if Mainoo-Ugarte needed...

....to mark De Bruyne-Foden as roaming midfielders they could, and wouldn't lose any space in doing so with the forward line tucked in on Gvardiol-Gundogan. Guardiola pushed his back 3 as wide as possible, but when it went to Nunes pressure was applied

If there was space found on the edges of United's press, on the other side Martinez could be aggressive on De Bruyne. Limit the space for Gvardiol-Gundogan->Pressurise the space when wide to Nunez-De Bruyne. It pushed City back and meant they rarely found central space

United were also brave when City had the ball in deep possession, Mazraoui would push up on Doku, and importantly Hojlund rather than press the keeper (like under Ten Hag) and commit high, it helped mark a player in the middle

It was interesting to see United use combinations out wide to find the spare man in the half-space in order to progress the ball. As City would press and the middle was marked off, United would play it wide to a full-back, bait the press and find a midfielder in the middle

As a player would come wide to close down a full-back it left a space for the central midfielder to come over, recieve and switch the ball. Execution has been a huge problem for United in attack, but at the very least vs City there were shades of United progressing the ball

This is important because as Walker pushed up to close down Dalot, Utd were able to find the spare midfielder overloading wide again, baiting the press. United have struggled hugely under pressure in build-up but the pattern of overloading with an 8 then switching was good

In addition, when City went direct to Haaland, Maguire won pretty much every duel. The changes helped 2nd half to give Utd more attacking verve, they were good out of possession and had Amad Diallo. Chance creation is still a problem, but OOP and build-up is getting there

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