Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has summed up Man United major flaws in Manchester derby defeat. The Red Devils were thrashed 3-0 at Old Trafford by rivals Man City on Sunday.
Now Wenger believes that United’s lack of cohesion and confidence were two big factors behind their defeat to City.
Pep Guardiola’s side ran out comfortable winners with two goals from Erling Haaland and a close-range strike from Phil Foden with 10 minutes remaining.
Erik ten Hag’s boys struggled to test City, particularly in the second half. United have now suffered five defeats from 10 games in the Premier League this season.
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Wenger believes United’s inability to build up play from the back dented the confidence of the players. The legendary Arsenal manager also feels there was a disconnect between the attacking and defensive players which allowed City too much space at Old Trafford.
‘I would say the gulf between the two teams became bigger and bigger as the game went on,’ Wenger told beIN Sports.
‘In the end, for such a big club you felt sorry for Man United because there’s no hope there in the team.
‘I don’t see where they can improve, basically. This team has lost confidence, quality and even spirit today. He went on to claim that it was not a great fighting spirit from Man United, on top of that.
‘I believe where Man United suffers a lot, first of all is about the quality, the individual quality of the players.
‘And I felt today they were very poor to build the game up from the back. They gave the ball so many times to the goalkeeper when they had possibilities to play forward. I would stay it started there.
‘Then you make the whole team uncertain and lack confidence because when you feel the fear is behind, they do not want the ball.
‘I would say the second part of their big problem today was the distances between the striker and the defenders was huge.
‘There were situations where the strikers were closing down, trying to pressure, and the defenders were 20 metres behind the halfway line.
‘You cannot win the ball back against a team like Man City when the distances are too big. The team was not compact enough, after that the difference of individual quality.
‘If you tell me tonight how many players who get in the first XI of Man City? For me that sums it up. Usually, in a big game or a big derby you’d say I would take three or four from here and there. That sums up the problem of Man United, basically.’