The game was there for the taking and Manchester United blew it.
Manchester United's midfielder Bryan Mbeumo reacts after his closing moments chance
Man Utd were frustrated by failing to score against the 10 men of Man City
(Image: Getty Images)
Let’s call it the ‘game’s there for the taking moment.’ Forget the Erling Haaland non-goal (the game obviously should have ended as a draw.) Manchester United’s biggest problem at the moment is taking advantage of situations when they are on top - really taking the game by the scruff of the neck and driving home their advantage. It’s almost as if a collective ‘now it’s down to us’ panic sets in.
It reared its head again as soon as Phil Foden got sent off on Sunday. Until that point United had hardly been rampant but certainly looked the team pressing most and more likely to score. Cue the red card and psychologically it was a case of - right you should win this game now guys if you seize the opportunity. But rather than being emboldened by that fact and the numerical advantage, keeping calm and keeping the ball they became desperate and gave the ball away to a City side that then worked much harder to keep it.
It’s a case of not seizing the opportunities that are there on a plate. It usually rears its head when lower placed sides maintain a low block to frustrate the hell out of them.
It also happens when they go 1-0 up and rather than keep on pressing to go and get a second they too often suddenly take on a defensive mindset to protect the lead which invites pressure.
There are massively experienced players in the United squad who know how to win games but as a collective it looks like they are too often highly uncertain as to how to do it.
They do not seize the initiative to kill off a team and end up getting punished for their inaction. See here: Everton away.
So forget the VAR farce, United could and should have won the Manchester derby anyway with a bit more thought and creativity.
They should have dominated the ball as soon as City went down to 10 men and made the pressure count over time - they afterall did have the numerical advantage for more than an hour.
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The key VAR moment that gave City victory
The key VAR moment that gave Man City victory (Image: Getty Images)
United's Kobbie Mainoo went close with a shot against the post
Man United's Kobbie Mainoo went close with a shot against the post (Image: Getty Images)
Kobbie Mainoo was brilliant as always but there were too many misplaced passes from others in the midfield with Bruno Fernandes having a rare off day.
As the match dragged on their play became more frantic and disjointed as the frustration mounted. The only real chance created was for Bryan Mbeumo is the closing seconds and he really should have scored.
Beyond that United did not fashion any other clear-cut opportunities despite playing against 10 men.
What should have been control and composure became play that was panicked and rushed giving the ball back to City.
They looked the more composed and expierienced side despite being a man down. They kept it, drew fouls and generally kept the ball away from their goal as much as possible.
So yes, it was a VAR farce, and no it should not have been a goal, but United need to play with more guile and expertise if they want to win these sort of games.