Football

Ex-Manchester United Defender Praises Red Devils Defensive Performance in Manchester Derby

Ex-Manchester United Defender Praises Red Devils Defensive Performance in Manchester Derby
Manchester United's Luke Shaw and Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne (right) battle for the ball during the Premier League match at Old Trafford, Manchester. Picture date: Saturday January 14, 2023. - Photo by Icon sport

Former Man United defender Rio Ferdinand has praised the performance of his ex-club’s defense in the side’s 2-1 Manchester Derby win over rivals City on Saturday at Old Trafford.

The win has gotten United supporters very excited as they now sit in fourth position in the league, behind third place Newcastle on goal difference and trailing second place City by just a single point. Arsenal lead the Premier League by eight points but with half the season remaining, Red Devils fans believe they could challenge for the league title this year.

Man United’s win over City saw them come from a goal behind. Jack Grealish scored for the visitors on the hour mark after he headed in a Kevin de Bruyne cross.

The home side came back through a controversial Bruno Fernandes equaliser. Midfielder Casemiro played a ball through to the clearly offside Marcus Rashford, who ran for the ball but did not touch it.

Fernandes came from behind the striker to score but the City players argued that Rashford had interfered with play from an offside position. Despite arguing with referee Stuart Atwell, the goal stood and Rashford then went on to net the winning goal four minutes later in the 82nd minute.

The win over their arch-rivals saw them extend their unbeaten run to nine games, despite the fact that they were missing a number of players who would have been assets in defense.

A ‘Controlled Performance’ from United

Ferdinand lauded the performance of the United players in keeping City’s top attackers from having a bigger effect on the game.

“What I would say is I’ve seen us capitulate in that position before,’ he said on his regular YouTube show, ‘Five.’

“I would have been walking out of the studio going to the toilet thinking it could be two or three (nil down) when I get back,” the pundit explained.

“I felt even though City had 70 odd per cent possession throughout the 90 minutes, I felt it was one of the most controlled performances without the ball from United,” Ferdinand said of the fixture.

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The Ten Hag Effect

The former United center-back was complimentary of the job that Erik ten Hag has done with the team, who previously lost 6-3 to City at the Etihad Stadium last year. Since then the side have tightened up under the guidance of Ten Hag and his coaches ‘as they have put their stamp on the side.

“The fact it was one shot on target that says there is a controlled element to the way United played without the ball,” Ferdinand explained of United’s defensive performance.

“And that is a huge testament to the coaching,” he added,  “You have to be well-coached to do that and that’s the big difference I see with this United team.”

Man United now go on to face Crystal Palace on Wednesday evening in the Premier League. Another win for Ten Hag’s outfit could see them add to their challenge for this year’s Premier League title before they head into a massive fixture against leaders Arsenal on Sunday at the Emirates Stadium.

 

 

 


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