Thread by @guillaume_0823

THREAD: How Erik ten Hag's Manchester United planned to beat Manchester City at Old Trafford

Key points of the GAMEPLAN of #MUFC in GW 18 of their Premier League season.

Starting XI choices:

-Malacia at LB gave extra intensity to wide 1v1s and security in deep build-up (1st phase)
-Fred-Casemiro pivot gave 2nd ball prowess & intensity in duels
-Rashford & Bruno wide gave transitional threat
-Martial offered technical security up front

Proactive Pressing in mid-block:

-Medium block with proactive pressing
-Martial & Eriksen cover shadow Rodri
-Wingers Rashford & Bruno closed central access to #MCI's #8's
-Ball forced wide to FBs
-Fred man-marking KDB's runs into the channel
-Ball-near CB follows CF

Proactive Pressing in high block:

-From goal-kicks, #MUFC pressed high to keep ball in opposite half
-Casemiro and Fred man-mark the #8s
-Eriksen marks #6 if Martial jumps to press

Building attacks long:

-Attack starts with GK
-Long ball to either find combination with supportive structure around the targeted area
-Long ball to win 2nd ball and transition

Creating attacks:

To create attacks, #MUFC aimed to win 2nd balls and transition from higher up. In the second phase, ETH has emphasized the importance to switch play to CREATE THE ATTACK (game model principle!):

Creating attacks:

Key to #MUFC's transitioning threat is the passing range of Casemiro in his deep positioning. United aimed to get Casemiro in possession after the 2nd ball and transition rapidly in behind.

Watch Casemiro's scan before receiving it!

Building and creating the attack:

When (rarely) building short in this game, #MUFC overloads a side and controls tempo to speed it up by SWITCHING PLAY in the second phase.

Controlling the flow "la pausa" by Eriksen and wall passes is vital to this buildup.

Creating and finishing the attack:

On the second goal, the same principles are followed: Build short, increase tempo by switching play and attack the box.

Note the importance of Garnacho's left foot which creates a second chance for the goal!

Box Defending:

To defend #MCI's notorious cut-back, a few sub-principles were coached:
-CBs and back post FB stay on 6-yard line
-tracking CM (Fred) closes ball down: "blocking hole" is created
-other CM covers cut-back opportunity around penalty spot

These were some of the notable, coached, and game-specific principles of Erik ten Hag's game plan.

Relative to the personnel available in 22-23, it was the correct choice of strategy for the Manchester United manager. What a win!