I always enjoy watching the opening minutes of a match. It gives you a clear indication of what has been worked on. For Man City: ▫️draw Utd’s front 4 onto them (Gundogan taking Fernandes w/him). 6v4. ▫️Positon KDB & B.Silva high & to the sides. ▫️Drop Haaland down. 3v2.
10 seconds later and the same set up again. ▫️Gundogan has dragged Fernandes to the side and deep. ▫️Bernardo Silva & KDB have split United’s DMs. ▫️Haaland drops down. Look at the space in front of United’s back 4.
How to work on attacking transitions: Man Utd don’t play with a single DM (screening the CBs). On transition, look to pass the ball into the CF - or that space behind McTominay & Eriksen - as early as possible. Coaches often talk about 1st pass forwards.
Look to penetrate between full back & CB. Try to work the ball into the penalty area/bye-line. United’s shape means there will be lots of space in front of Martinez/Malacia when City attack down their LHS.
Look to create isolations. Foden runs towards the centre of the goal, dragging Malacia underneath the ball. Haaland peels to the back post. He has a height advantage over both United defenders & Bernardo Silva stands the ball up to the far post. Creative players w/ guidance 👌🏻
This was the first goal. A worrying sight for Man United fans. Haaland back post (1v1) against Martinez (he just had that header (tweet above)). Foden again runs across the front. Bernardo Silva changes the delivery. Low cut back (rather than standing it up to EH). 1-0
This one picture shows the various possibilities that Manchester City had when in possession.
City could work an up, back and through. 1) Ake to Haaland 2) Haaland to Gundogan 3) Gundogan to De Bruyne With Foden wide to create space between Martinez & Malacia. Haaland deep, dragging Martinez under the ball. Eriksen ball watching.
They could miss out the back part and just try the ball into Haaland (1) and the pass around the corner (2) for Bernardo Silva, attacking the space in behind Varane.
They could work a 1v1 for Foden with KDB attacking the space between Martinez & Malacia. 1) Ake to Haaland 2) Haaland to Gundogan 3) Gundogan to KDB 4) KDB to Foden Walker could also overlap or enter the half space vacated by KDB’s run in behind United’s defence.
City could also work a pass to Grealish with Bernardo Silva attacking the space between Varane & Dalot. 1) Ake to Haaland 2) Haaland to Grealish (Dalot may come narrow as B.Silva in space) 3) Grealish to B.Silva Or Grealish in space as Dalot is narrow = attack the box.
What actually happened was Ake worked a diagonal to Foden who then played KDB in behind United defence (attacking the space between Martinez & Malacia). So that is 5/6 different variations from one moment. All because the positioning of the players was good. Patterns of play
The beauty is once you execute one move it opens up another. If City tried the Ake to Haaland to ball around the corner for Bernardo Silva move, the next time they are in this position Dalot should come narrow, opening up the Haaland to Grealish move.
