Manager Bounce is Real. United 2-0 City: A Performance to Be Proud Of
What a game. Seriously, what a game. The first 20 minutes were very entertaining and we actually had a decent amount of the ball. We were playing very well right from the whistle. Harry Maguire had an early, easy header chance that he put onto the crossbar. It really should have been a goal. Apart from that miss, we had so many counter-attack chances.
Maybe it was the manager bounce, but we created good chances that could have and should have been converted. Dorgu had a shot on target which was saved by Donnarumma. Honestly, Donnarumma was the best City player in the starting 20 minutes, which tells you a lot about how good we were playing.
Between the 20th and 30th minute, it felt like we were playing purely on counters. City had 70% possession, but they just had one shot which wasn’t even good. Then came the first frustration. Bruno and Mbeumo had a good connection for a chance that got intercepted. Shortly after, Amad scored one after getting through Donnarumma, but it was marginally offside. We were clearly the better team for the starting 35 minutes. We were the only team bringing any threat.
Then at the 40th minute, Martinez looked up and played an amazing ball to Bruno. Bruno made a run, dribbled past Donnarumma, let Ake slide past him, and finished it. But again, offside. That was two times offside. United have been such a threat.
Carrick Tactics and Second Half Nerves
The way we played in the first half was so entertaining, even if we ended up losing. Carrick is focusing on zonal marking as a manager and not man-to-man, and it shows. We were playing so well that I thought it would be a shame not to win. I did have a worry, though. I felt there might be a mistake coming. I saw a red card possibility in this game where United could go down to 10 men because we had been fouling a lot.
The start of the second half saw Dalot put up an amazing low cross. The players didn’t reach it at the end, but it could have been a clear goal if someone just touched it. It was a very good, interesting chance. We were creating so many chances. Maybe we would have done the same with Amorim, maybe a bit, but this quantity was too much. We needed a goal ASAP.
Even after 50 minutes, United were at 30% possession, but I wasn’t really feeling that dominance from City. I felt we were getting the ball. The xG was also shocking. We were at 0.39 xG to City’s 0.23 xG. I felt United should have had way more.
Dalot has been so on and off. I don’t know why he can’t pass straight and simple. He kept giving away the ball. Then came a massive sequence. Dorgu hit an amazing diagonal pass to Amad, who cut in and put a shot on goal. Donnarumma saved it. Then Casemiro tried to dink the rebound, but it was saved again by Donnarumma. We really should get the 3 points. We have been so much better even though we had less possession.
The Breakthrough
Casemiro looks and feels so slow in the midfield. We really need to see Ugarte there. But seeing Sesko and Cunha on the bench filled me with confidence. By 60 minutes it was still 0-0. Donnarumma saving so many shots made him the man of the match for City so far.
Finally, United scored from a counter! Bruno, Mbeumo, Dorgu, and Amad were all running. Mbeumo took it with a first touch and put it past City. What a feeling.
At the 70th minute, the stats showed the truth. We were at 1.47 xG and City were at just 0.36 xG. United had 6 shots on target and City with just 1. Cunha came on for Mbeumo at the 70th minute. I felt United should do a midfield substitute too because Casemiro looked a bit slow when tracking and running back.
Then, oh my god. Cunha puts a cross in, Dorgu dips in between the center backs and scores! United 2-0. Sir Alex Ferguson was smiling in the stands. Oh, what a beautiful day this is. Highly deserved. In the 80th minute, Casemiro finally went out and Ugarte came on, which I feel is good.
The Finish
At the 90th minute, we had another amazing chance by Amad which was saved. Shaw and Bruno went out for Heaven and Mount. Cunha put an amazing pass to Mount and Mount scored. It took VAR so long to declare it, but it was offside. It was 3-0 but Cunha was marginally offside. Still, happy faces all around.
United win 2-0. Manager bounce, domination after shit weeks, and finally a good game. Next match against a more disciplined side Arsenal away – the most difficult match that we will play this year, hope we get something out of it. Till next time, Yanited Yanited Yanited!
UNITED SCRIPTED. 
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