The Manchester Derby is slowly becoming a routine one, not for a City win but because those are the games you Phil Foden will always shine in. Sunday afternoon saw the embarrassing gap between the Manchester clubs in full view and City filled with confidence heading into a huge week of games.

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Manchester City 3 - 1 Manchester United Review

Premier League

MOTM: Phil Foden

Other standout performances include: Rodri & Bernardo Silva

Notable Stats:

• This was the first time Manchester City had ever come from behind to beat Manchester United in a Premier League match, in the 29th occasion of them falling behind in this fixture (D3 L25).

• Manchester City fired 18 shots in the first half, the joint-most Man United have faced in the first half of a Premier League game since 2003/04.

• Pep Guardiola has done the Premier League double over Man Utd as many times as every other Man City manager combined (3).

• Manchester City touches in the opposition box (69) compared to United (9). Manchester United had few possession (26%) than shots by Manchester City (27).

Main Takeaways:

• Derby day brings a different feel and energy to the game that if it was another team most of us would be relaxed after the game knowing City dominated. Derby means you read far more into the first twenty minutes than you should do for example and rival fans will say City looked completely wide open to a counter attack.

• Performance that should be reflected by a 5-0 scoreline, plenty of chances missed in the first half and brainfart by Ake led to the Rashford goal. Besides that, keeping United to running the ball out of play on the break if they did get one. Pinned back in their own half for most of it.

• Phil Foden has five game winning goals this season. Has removed any doubt that our contender for Player of the Season is him, deciding to win the team games when it matters most and keep us in the title race. Creating chances, scoring goals, winning back possession across the pitch and part of the build up.

• Haaland missing that chance was brutal to watch, theme of his this season to miss that chance but comfortably finish a one on one. Somewhat quiet today, had some moments holding up the ball but we will need him to be ruthless for us to win the league. We all know how good he can be.

• City did respond well and quickly to the Rashford goal, which was against the run of play in a derby and could have easily rattled the players enough to give up more chances. Something we have been slow to do early in the season was get back control of a game quickly. Defense improved as time went on.

• Kevin De Bruyne should have had an assist for the Haaland big chance missed. Consistently providing a crossing threat and making runs into the box from out wide. Not his best game on output alone but put in a shift off the ball to cover ground and make rotations out wide with Foden, Doku and Bernardo. Pulling players towards him to create space for Phil to take the game.

• Rodri in home games as the lone six is the foundation for everything Manchester City build on. Completing 11 long balls, his switches out wide with balls over to Walker/Doku and having the composure to lay it off the Haaland after winning the ball. The work off the ball by Stones and other players gave Rodri all the time in the world to play the right passes.

• Bernardo performance may fly under the radar but he was another exceptional player on that pitch. It would have been huge for City to lose him in the last summer, elite in all phases of play and can be molded to any role game to game. Making the most key passes (7) and winning the most ground duels (5), sums up Bernardo Silva quite well.

• John Stones tasked with exploiting the space in the middle left by Manchester United, who marked our 8s (KDB & Bernardo) and got dragged out wide. Opening up the space for him.

• Stones was acting as a decoy all game long, opening up the space by making runs off the ball. Constantly making defenders turn their head and second guess their positioning.

• Kyle Walker looking like the one we saw in the run-in for the Treble last season, dealt with Rashford comfortably and wasn’t dribbled past once. Partly at fault for the goal, not closing down Rashford. Has had moments earlier in the season being clumsy defending but of late, including today, has been very subtle and smart with his actions to put off attackers. Gain that extra second to recover the ball. Walker recovered the ball 11 times in the match, more than any other City player with Rodri (5) being second. No more long shots though, please Kyle.

• Nathan Ake having a standard game of his, being solid at left back dealing with wingers. Safe in possession and moving the ball in the opposition half. Has to be dependable for the back line to push up. Early in the first half he got caught out, seemed to make him second guess the offside trap hence why he kept Bruno onside. Brainfart on that one but besides that he had a good performance.

• Ruben Dias performance similar to Ake, both need to be dependable for the most part to have our back line push up so high. Some aerial duels in the first half he should have done better in with United playing on the break a couple times. Besides that, a solid performance as our lone central defender in our half that looks after the ball and keeps it calm. Being the CCB in a back 3 (Stones in midfield) is his best role in the team.
  
  He did provide a plenty of long passes out to Doku, underrated part of his game, along with firing hard passes into Haaland when he drops which created the chance he had turning Evans before Varane took him out (second half).

• Jeremy Doku had a big opportunity in this game to make an impact and push himself into the team for the big games. Looks good in moments and wasteful in others, which for his first season at City is exactly what you should expect. It’s a huge learning curve and increase in expectations. Decision making in the final third is something he is struggling to get right at the moment, having him and Haaland on the pitch means 2 less players for build up (Grealish would support this). That’s partly were this controversy over him comes from.
  
  Two examples below, first one he finds himself in a lot and doesn’t attack out wide with speed. If he does then there is at least 3 players making runs into the box. Second one he misses is the cut back across the edge of the box, De Bruyne the clear open player but a couple others are also there if he doesn’t get the pass perfect. Two examples for you to watch in upcoming games he plays next.
  
  Final note, I have no doubt he has the ability to succeed at Manchester City in the long term but for now, until his decision making in the final third clicks he will continue to stand out for his weaknesses.

• Julian Alvarez came on for the last 30 minutes of the game, looking fresh and moved across the pitch to find rotations with players. Primarily with Foden on the left side, which Guardiola moved him to, including the one-two assist for the second goal. Making as many key passes in the match as the entire Manchester United team did in the ninety minutes.
  
  He has certainly had moments this season struggling in midfield but for the long term City are better for it. Our first attacking option off the bench in the big games. Can rotate on either flank, link up in midfield and push up as a striker alongside Haaland, giving the team a lot of options when needing a late goal.

Moving Forward:

• Perfect Start to March by winning the derby, setting up the team well to rotate midweek against Copenhagen and come in fresh against Liverpool. Perhaps the biggest game of our season.

• Copenhagen as mentioned should see some key rotations but not a full overhaul.

• Julian Alvarez putting himself top of the list for our first attacking substitute in the big games, came on fresh and sharp. Works incredibly well Foden and can impact the game across the front line.

• Confidence and belief the team will have heading into March now is the best we could possibly hope for.

• Return of Gvardiol possible against Copenhagen and then just Grealish left to return at the end of March.

• There is still a free spot in the team for big games, Doku wasn’t able to take that opportunity today.

Interesting Moments and Links

• “He will be a legend” - Pep Guardiola on Phil Foden

• Thread on Phil Foden by City Tactics

• Domination.

That’s all for this newsletter, rounding up our week with everything here at Sky Blue Times and the world of Manchester City. We are always looking for other ways to provide value to our subscribers so we appreciate any feedback provided in the comments below.

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