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Premier League. Nettement supérieurs, les visiteurs l'ont emporté en toute logique (2-0). Les temps sont toujours durs pour les Red Devils.">
There was not really a match at Old Trafford on Saturday 6 November during the famous Manchester derby. At home, United were largely outnumbered by City in this Premier League Matchday 11 game. Clearly superior, the visitors logically won (2-0). Times are always tough for the Red Devils.
Old Trafford, home of Manchester United, has rarely misused its nickname “Theater of Dreams”. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men had a nightmare against Manchester City on Saturday. It was not as bad as in the last game played on this lawn, on October 24, with this humiliation against Liverpool (5-0). But the level difference between United and City has been glaring.
Without his French Raphaël Varane (injured), Paul Pogba (suspended) and Anthony Martial (substitute), with an attack composed of Cristiano Ronaldo and Mason Greenwood supported by Bruno Fernandes, Manchester United hoped to confirm their rebound, a week after their victory at Tottenham. Hope quickly vanished against the armada of Cityzens.
A nightmarish first act
The players coached by Pep Guardiola set the tone for entry. Against a disorganized defense, Joao Cancelo distilled a dangerous center and Eric Bailly, wanting to intervene, deflected the ball into his own net (7th). A hard blow in the form of a prelude to the first 45 terrible minutes.
Apart from a shot from Ronaldo right on Ederson (25th), the Red Devils were largely dominated by Manchester City throughout the first period. Without several masterful saves by David De Gea against Gabriel Jesus (29th), Cancelo (30th) and Kevin De Bruyne (34th), the score would have been very severe.
The Spanish goalkeeper also had the reflex to prevent Victor Lindelöf from scoring against his camp in turn (33rd). On the other hand, faced with the passivity of all the rear guard of United, De Gea could not prevent the goal of the break signed Bernardo Silva just before the break (45th + 1). When it came time to return to the locker room, the contrast was obvious between a self-confident team and one without a solution.
Can Solskjaer hold out?
For the recovery, Solskjaer did try a reorganization by leaving the Ivorian defender Bailly to integrate the striker Jadon Sancho, recruited 85 million euros during the summer and very little used. A change that has not revived Manchester United. The skyblues waves were less violent but the vice-champions of Europe remained ultra domineering, masters of the ball.
The numbers speak for themselves. In 90 minutes, United only scored one shot (5 for City). The visitors monopolized the leather (68% ball possession) and gleaned their 9th victory from their last 14 visits to Old Trafford. Pep Guardiola did not even need to make the slightest change, while he had at his disposal on the bench Jack Grealish, Riyad Mahrez, Fernandinho or Raheem Sterling.
After such a lesson received, it becomes clear that Manchester United are not equipped to compete with the best clubs in England at the moment. The question of Solskjaer’s future on the bench arises more than ever. For Manchester City, the time is better. The vice-champion of England is provisionally 2nd with 23 points behind the leader Chelsea (25 points) and in front of Liverpool (22 points), who will have to answer in this 11th day of the Premier League.
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