Three Key Factors For Manchester United Ahead Of Manchester City In This Weekend’s Derby

Manchester United fans were delighted with the news that both Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford have resumed training ahead of the crunch match in the Manchester derby this weekend.

Martial, who has only played 45 minutes in the PremierPINC
League this season, is greatly appreciated by Red Devils fans and will be a welcome addition to the team on Sunday afternoon.

The France international set up Rashford’s goal against Liverpool earlier this season with his involvement in the second half and displayed brilliant hold-up play and connectivity between other teammates.

Manchester United, under Erik Ten Hag, clearly want to play in a more fluid and progressive system, which is why Martial is key to the forward line. Not only does he pose a threat in the box and has the ability to score from anywhere, his link-up play and work back to goal is exceptional.

When Martial is fit, firing and full of confidence, Manchester United see a completely different player to what they are used to. It is known that when there is little competition at the club for his position, the Frenchman operates on a better level over a more consistent basis.

While Rashford might not be fit enough to start against Pep Guardiola’s City side, his impact off the bench could prove to be pivotal against tired legs. According to Ten Hag, Martial has trained all week and will be primed to start, whereas Rashford has only just resumed his sessions with the group.

Should the Englishman not be in a position to start, the forward line is likely to possess Jadon Sancho off the left, Martial through the middle and new signing Antony on the right-hand side. Cristiano Ronaldo and Rashford will be used as game changes from the sidelines.

Manchester City, as usual, are going to dominate possession and have the vast majority of the ball. Where Man United need to focus on to punish them is in the turnover exchanges and quick transitions – just as they managed to execute against Liverpool and Arsenal earlier this month.

With Sancho, Martial and Antony, Manchester United hold the keys in getting in and behind Man City’s defence providing they can get the ball to one of Christian Eriksen or Bruno Fernandes to release them. Ten Hag appreciates that this team is not yet designed to dominate big matches – especially against the Citizens – and so he must remain pragmatic in his approach.

Another key area will be the midfield battle and who the former AFC Ajax manager decides to start with. Eriksen and Fernandes appear to be shoe-ins, so it is down to the decision of starting Casemiro or remaining with Scott McTominay.

The latter has been excellent this season and deserves credit for raising his performances after the arrival of the Brazil international. Casemiro is still adapting and adjusting to life in the Premier League, but brings with him a wealth of experience and a winner’s mentality that the team needs.

In this situation, there does not appear to be any wrong decisions for Ten Hag, who has depth at his disposal at an elite level. It is clear that Eriksen will start, who has been Man United’s best player this season, along with Fernandes who can does not stop running and provides an excellent final pass.

The key will be preventing space in between the lines for the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva in having time to pick their pass into Erling Haaland. It will be a job for all three of Man United’s midfield to make sure they are completely focussed and on hand at all times.

Another big test awaits Manchester United and new manager Ten Hag. If previous results have any bearing on the outcome of this one, it might be a weekend to celebrate for fans of the Red Devils.