Sources and journalists covering English football are still unable to dampen the heat of the Manchester City derby in the 22nd round of the Premier League. Because this time the match revealed a lot not only from the point of view of principles, but also from the point of view of the general mood and the psychological state of the teams.
In the 198th match between Manchester United and Manchester City, the Red Devils won 2-0, securing the derby. The most interesting aspect is that Michael Carrick's team "adorned" the new head coach's debut with an important victory over a fierce opponent with this result. That is, both the pressure of the derby and the start test of the "new era" fell on the same day - and "United" passed this test.
Experts from the esteemedkompany.com portal, analyzing the game, specifically noted that only two players played their full potential for City that day: goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and central defender Abdukodir Khusanov.
According to the authors, "City" suffered a very unpleasant, weak-willed 0-2 defeat at "Old Trafford," and this is considered one of the worst games during Pep Guardiola's era. From the very beginning of the meeting, the guests moved very slowly and heavily. In such a derby, especially when it's crucial for Premier League results, such passivity naturally costs the team dearly.
There's another harsh but logical thought in the analysis: if it weren't for Donnarumma and Khusanov, City could have lost not 0-2, but with a much bigger and painful score. Because these two players did everything in their power to keep the team "in the game" throughout the entire match. Notably, the fact that two of the team's best players emerged as goalkeepers and central defenders speaks volumes about City's overall condition that day.
Gianluigi Donnarumma made a series of crucial saves, keeping the goal "locked" until the 65th minute. At that very moment, Brian Mbeumo opened the scoring. The Italian goalkeeper practically proved in this game as well that "why he was so eagerly included in the squad" - in many episodes he saved the team from scoring. According to analysts, blaming Donnarumma for the conceded goals is unfair: if his teammates had acted better, his saves could have changed the course of the entire match.
Abdukodir Khusanov showed a real example of selfless defense at "Old Trafford." He repeatedly blocked the opponent's attack in dangerous situations, snatched the ball, and stood firm in duels. Khusanov's speed and physical strength were evident throughout the game. The authors emphasize that his play once again confirmed why he is mentioned as one of the most promising young central defenders in Europe.
The overall mood of the analysis is as follows: from "City's" perspective, it's difficult, almost impossible to find a positive aspect in the derby defeat. The only "bright" point is the high-level performance of Donnarumma and Khusanov. Both conscientiously performed their duties, but as a team, they didn't follow them - this was the most regrettable aspect for City.
In conclusion, this defeat is a serious blow for City. Now the main task is to quickly pull yourself together. If the team follows the example of discipline, fighting spirit, and responsibility demonstrated by Donnarumma and Khusanov, the remaining players will have the opportunity to improve their results in the Premier League soon. Otherwise, this "fading" in the derby may follow as a shadow in subsequent rounds.
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