So impressed was Erik ten Hag with the performance of Bruno Fernandes in Saturday’s Manchester derby that he singled him out for special praise. Fernandes is captain when Harry Maguire doesn’t start and, unusually, he was used on the right.
“The idea is with Bruno on the right wing and especially in defending,” Ten Hag said of the shift in tactics. “We defended as usual, but in possession he had a role to come in between the lines to bring an extra player there and bring the opponent problems and create hesitation and confusion. I thought he played that role brilliantly.
“The rest of the team adapted well to the situation and we had really good breaks by finding the free man. Bruno was an important factor in that role and important in the pressing as well. He was my man of the match, definitely.”
Anthony Martial did not have as productive an afternoon as Fernandes and was brought off at half time.
“I hoped to avoid him getting injured but he was complaining,” said Ten Hag, who has now overseen nine consecutive United victories. “That’s why he also didn’t train in the week and was a question mark [for the derby].
“We decided – and he decided as well – to start. He begged to start. I knew the start would be so important in this game and he is really good at pressing and he is a really big element in our pressing.”
By not being fully fit, Martial did not press as well as he had done in previous Manchester derbies.
“I needed to re-evaluate at half-time as you saw he was not capable to go 100 per cent and this is what you need,” explained Ten Hag. “And also to avoid him getting injured so we took him off but it also had a negative impact on our game after half-time.”
Man United 2 Man City 1: Player ratings
-
MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: David De Gea - 7, City had more possession but fewer chances in the first half – just one shot to United’s four. A couple of poor balls out and couldn’t do much for City’s goal. Getty -
Tyrell Malacia - 9, His best United game. Made a fine run on a 32nd minute counter attack but the pass from Fernandes didn’t come to him. Excellent cutting out a 54th minute De Bruyne ball. Targeted in the last derby, a 3-6 defeat. Much better in this one, though a 75th minute cross was a poor one. PA -
Luke Shaw - 9, Surprise starter and busy as City put a lot of balls into the United box. Took the ball off Bernardo to break up a 54th minute City attack. Roared on after a 94th minute interception which stopped a City attack. And again in the 95th minute. AFP -
Raphael Varane - 9, He’s brilliant. Followed Haaland closely and bested him throughout. Rapid when clearing up loose ball, snuffing attacks out. Went towards J Stand at the end and bellowed in celebration with the fans. This is why he joined United. Magnificent performance. Reuters -
Aaron Wan-Bissaka - 8, Big test for the man – and he was up to it. Grew stronger in the second half, battled, won tackles and even had a shot on goal. AFP -
Fred - 8, Man-marked De Bruyne. Two super tackles on him after 18, to huge cheers. Energy to the end. Like a rat up a drainpipe. Magnificent. EPA -
Casemiro - 8, Headed corners away. Blocked Haaland’s shot on 24. Couldn’t get close enough to De Bruyne as he set up City’s opener. Ball towards Rashford set up the equaliser – though Fernandes converted it. Helped United be so good out of possession. PA -
Christian Eriksen - 6, Played in the No 10 role and put Fernandes in for an early shot. Combined well with Rashford in a 37th minute attack. Booked for a second foul on Grealish and brought off soon after. PA -
Bruno Fernandes - 8, Played on the right, defended well, pressed well. Manager’s man of the match. Shot wide after 11 following an Eriksen assist. Poor ball towards Malacia on 32 as United countered. Lofted a clever ball forward. Then he equalised – what a (controversial) moment. Getty -
Anthony Martial - 5, Surprise start given his manager said he was injured. Effective when coming back early in the game and linking up on the attacks, but he didn’t press as he should – and did against City in previous derbies. Off at half time. Getty -
Marcus Rashford - 8, Linked with those around him. Broke on 33 and shot but it was easily cleared. Burned Rodri off on 37 but ran out of space as Ederson came out and made a top save. Pulled up soon after and it looked like he’d have to leave the field at half time. He didn’t and stayed on to get the 82nd minute winner, the ninth consecutive game he’s scored in. AFP -
SUBS: Antony - 5, On for Martial at half time. Didn’t do much. Reuters -
Alejandro Garnacho - 7, On for Eriksen after 71. Energetic and ran down left. Tried to cross, the ball hit Ake’s face and came back to him. He turned, then hit a left footed cross towards Rashford for the winner. EPA -
Harry Maguire N/A. Lisandro Martinez N/A. Scott McTominay N/A. Reuters -
MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Ederson - 5, Looked shaky at times, notably rushing out and being beaten to the ball by Rashford, but did well to smother the United forward later in the first half. Little he could have done about the goals. PA -
Kyle Walker - 6, Was solid for large periods, notably stepping out to stop Fernandes’ pass to Malacia, and got forward well with one ambitious shot fizzing agonisingly wide before half time. Was beaten by Fernandes for the equaliser. PA -
Manuel Akanji - 6, Cleared Rashford’s shot off the line then stopped Martial getting off a convincing header. Did superbly to stop Malacia’s ball through, then halted Garnacho’s run but was involved as Fernandes equalised then completely lost Rashford as United went ahead. AFP -
Nathan Ake - 6, Wasn’t afraid to step out and make an impact, whether that was on the ball or winning it back. However, he was turned by Garnacho before the substitute set up the winner. AP -
Joao Cancelo - 7, Showed early intent with a burst forward while also defending well, notably reaching Martial’s pass ahead of Rashford and heading away Shaw’s cross. AFP -
Kevin De Bruyne - 8, Was frustrated by Fred early on but his influence grew as the game progressed with the Belgian’s delightful dink setting up Grealish’s opener. Couldn’t quite unlock United’s defence as City chased the equaliser. EPA -
Rodrigo - 7, Put in a lot of strong defensive work, winning the ball back when United threatened to break forward and doing well to keep Rashford under pressure when he was bearing down on goal. PA -
Bernardo Silva - 5, Dropped deep to get the ball in the first half but played a poor pass that resulted in a chance for Fernandes. Couldn’t quite play Haaland through, then tried to head the ball back when there was the chance to go for goal. AFP -
Riyad Mahrez - 6, Was frustrated by the amount of times Malacia fouled him in the first half and had a poor pass cut out in a promising position. Played a lovely flick to help a De Bruyne burst forward. Getty -
Erling Haaland - 5, Tried to come deep to get on the ball and saw his one real shot blocked by Casemiro. Made a strong defensive header from a United corner but was unable to get a shot off before Casemiro tackled him. AFP -
Phil Foden - 4, Was very quiet and was caught offside a few times. Couldn’t get a convincing header on De Bruyne’s cross and played a poor pass in a promising position. Hooked after 57 minutes. EPA -
SUB: Jack Grealish (Foden, 57’) - 8, Made an instant impact as he headed home De Bruyne’s cross, then continued to get on the ball. His late cross required a superb defensive header from Shaw. AFP
Martial might not be ready to play in United’s next game at Crystal Palace on Wednesday, but it could provide an opportunity to new loan signing Wout Weghorst.
“I have to think about that,” said Ten Hag of whether he will use the Dutch striker. “First to settle down after this game, make the right conclusions and then we will make a clear plan for Palace.
“Of course I know a lot about Palace – we faced them also in pre-season and know how their team is – but the total plan I don’t have now. So from this point on we can construct the plan and prepare the team in the right way.”
United’s fixture schedule is relentless, with ten games between January 3 and February 4 – and that after the intense round of festive fixtures. United have won every game so far, with Saturday’s derby win the most significant. Ten Hag is determined to enjoy it.
“I think every win you have to celebrate,” he said. “You work so hard for such momentum and every win is so great in top football. If can’t celebrate you kill the energy as well. So we have to celebrate, but after it we have to settle down after 24 hours and move on to the next game.
“You have to get in the right rhythm every third day and we have to deliver. The players have to get in the right rhythm from a physical point of view but also mentally – be ready for the next game.”
United’s players enjoyed their brief time off after the derby – though the support staff were straight into working on the Palace game. United’s last game at Selhurst Park was the final game of the 2021-22 season. United were dreadful and lost 1-0. Ten Hag was in the crowd to see it – and to see the size of the job ahead.
The team that day was David De Gea, Alex Telles, Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, Diogo Dalot, Scott McTominay, Fred, Anthony Elanga, Hannibal Mejbri, Fernandes, and Edinson Cavani. Juan Mata, Alejandro Garnacho and Shola Shoretire came on as substitutes. United were in the middle of losing seven consecutive away league games – a run that lasted until they defeated Southampton in August this season.
Manchester United’s turnaround has been significant since. If Ten Hag’s team avenge that loss at Crystal Palace, they’ll move up to second in the Premier League behind Arsenal – ahead of Sunday’s game against the league leaders.
