Manchester City Derby 3:0, Some people win because of "change", while others lose because of "stalemate"...

Manchester heavy rain did not extinguish the heat of the derby, but instead became the "demonic mirror" of the tactical systems of the two teams. Manchester City's 3-0 victory over Manchester United was never an accidental goal outbreak, but a complete suppression of "flexible adaptability" on "steadiness and stubbornness". Without having to pile up complex data, just looking at the differences in tactical choices and adjustments between the two teams, you can understand the outcome of this game, which is long hidden in the coach's decision-making details.

Manchester City: Following the Rain Battle, "change", every step is to accurately hit Manchester United's pain point

Guardiola did not fight hard with the "passing and controlling first", but instead turned the disadvantages of Rain Battle into an advantage of breaking the deadlock. The most critical step is to let 19-year-old youth training young player Husanov take the lead in the "midfield free agent" - this young man did not play according to the routine midfield routine, but instead looked like a "mobile hub". 91% of the pass success rate in the game was comparable to installing GPS, and 7 accurate long passes bypassed Manchester United's high-pressure pressing. You should know that the turf slipped on rainy days, and Manchester United players turned slowly when pressing forward. Husanov's long pass just fell in the gap when they returned to defense. He sent the ball directly to Duoku's feet several times, making the counterattack faster than one rhythm.

Doku's right attack was a clear card for Manchester City to play a "targeted strike". Pre-match analysis pointed out that Manchester United's turnover rate on slippery courts on the right will be 20% higher, and Guardiola will fight this weakness to the death. Doku succeeded in 7 games, three more times than the Manchester United team in total. Luke Shaw was shaken by him and slid on the turf several times, and could not keep up with the rhythm at all. In the 17th minute, Foden assisted and Haaland in the 53rd minute, both key passes were accurately stuck in the "empty" between Manchester United's three central defenders and the wingbacks - it was difficult for the defenders to get stuck in the rainy days. Once this gap was exposed, Manchester City immediately inserted accurately, without giving time to remedy.

Even Rodri's adjustment after the 68th minute was "flexible". Guardiola did not rush to change to midfield and instead allowed the team to shrink its formation and counterattack. Although the ball possession rate has dropped to 45%, the offensive efficiency has been directly increased: 12 shots and 5 shots are on the right track, and 3 goals are all "deadly one-hit". Haaland scored twice, which seemed to be his strong personal ability, but in fact it was tactics that sent him to the most comfortable position - either Duoku's straight pass helped him to counter-offside, or B's long pass made him face the goalkeeper without having to squeeze in the defensive crowd. Such opportunities in rainy days are fatal enough to catch them once.

and the usage of Donaruma also jumped out of the box of traditional goalkeepers. This new player who only joined Manchester City in September not only defended the goal, but also successfully passed the ball 37 times and 27 feet. Several times when Manchester United pressed at high positions, he used a short pass to steadily send the ball out of the backcourt, which was equivalent to an additional reliable "backfield goal point". In the third minute, Scheshko's long shot was saved and Mbemo's volleyball shot in the 61st minute. He not only defended the goal, but also the stability of Manchester City's tactical strategy - if he had conceded the ball early, the subsequent adjustments would probably not be so calm.

Manchester United: The chain reaction of holding the three central defenders is becoming more and more chaotic, and the biggest problem of Amorin is to regard the "three central defenders system" as an "iron law" that cannot be touched, and even if the loopholes in this formation are magnified on rainy days, he will not let go. The third central defender needs the wingback to run back and forth to fill the position, but on rainy days, the turf slipped, and the wingback rushed forward and couldn't come back, and retreated but couldn't stop the breakthrough - Duoku grabbed this loophole and repeatedly attacked on the right. Manchester City broke through Manchester United's gap in the ribs nine times throughout the game, all of which were the gaps in the connection between the three central defenders and the wingbacks. In the 17th minute, Foden's goal was entered from this gap, and the defensive players did not even have the chance to reach out to intercept.

pressing at high levels is even more "investigating one's own hardship". Manchester United wants to press down on Manchester City's ball from the frontcourt, but the turf slips on rainy days, and the players have no roots under their feet, so they are prone to lose their positions as soon as they pounce on them. Husanov's long pass can directly break through the pressing line, and several times forced the Manchester United defender to chase him back. In the 55th minute, De Rigt's slippage and mistake was the most typical: he wanted to clear the ball forward, but he slipped his foot but didn't get the ball, so he directly sent the ball to Haaland. Fortunately, Haaland was not ready to miss the shot, otherwise the score would have been 3-0. After the game, some Manchester United players complained that "there is no longer stable in standing still and they have to press for it." This hit the nail on the head - the tactics do not change with the conditions of the venue, they are just holding on, and the more they support, the more chaotic they become.

also followed the "stalking" on the offensive end. The 55% possession rate of the game looks good, but only 2 shots are directed, which is meaningless "invalid possession". B Fei was pulled to play a guest appearance in the defensive midfielder, and the original threat of forward insertion was gone; Ugath got the ball in the midfield, but he could only turn his feet back and forth, and could not find a chance to send forward. Amorin didn't remember to adjust until halftime, but at this time, Manchester City's rhythm had already risen, and it was too late to adjust the tactics. Compared with Manchester City's clear idea of ​​"main attack on the right + counterattack sneak attack", Manchester United's attack is like a headless fly, with 13 shots and two shots on the right, and his efficiency is pitifully inefficient, even fans are anxious. The collapse of

's wing defense is a chain reaction of "rigidity". Luke Shaw was "badged" by Doku all night, and Dalot was not much better. The two of them completed only one successful cross. Manchester United's wide lane should have been an offensive breakthrough, but it turned out to be a "big hole" in defense. Manchester City created 11 opportunities on the right side alone, which was like pressing Manchester United's defense line to the ground. In this case, even if Haaland didn't score so many goals, Manchester City would sooner or later find a way to score - after all, Manchester United's tactical loopholes are too obvious and cannot be hidden at all.

The essence of tactical victory and loss: it is not whether the formation is good or bad, but whether it will "follow the game"

There are not so many complex tactical theories in this derby. The core sentence is: Manchester City changes with the game, Manchester United holds the formation and stagnates. Whether Guardiola used a new player, hit the wing, or Rodri changed to counterattack after being injured, he revolved around "how to win" and was not tied up by a fixed style of play. Instead, Amorin regarded the three central defenders as a "life-saving straw". Even if the court was not adapted to and the players could not run, he would not relax. In the end, he could only see the loopholes getting bigger and bigger and couldn't stop them at all.

The rain stopped and the score was frozen at 3-0, but the tactical gap was more dazzling than the score.

Manchester City proves that good tactics are never a dead routine drawn on the tactical board, but a live chess that can flexibly adjust the weather, opponents, and players' status; Manchester United reminds everyone to keep their past experiences, even if the formation is "advanced", they will be taught a lesson by the game.

There is no always right way to play in football. Only coaches who know how to "follow the rhythm of the game" also need to implement the adjustments.

Do you think Manchester United still has hope of returning to the top 4 this season?