The Manchester Derby is fast approaching and with Manchester United within four points of rivals Manchester City, Erik ten Hag will be desperate to get a win.
Though the last derby doesn't show it - with City being 4-0 up at halftime and the end result being 6-3 - the match is often one of small margins. Both coaches will be looking for any edge they can get to overcome their opponents.
Pep Guardiola said before City's 2-0 loss to Southampton that he had been deep in thought about his plans for the derby. "I would like to arrive against United with the average of minutes in the legs of the players quite similar, because I have a few ideas, thoughts, ridiculous ones against United, but still I didn’t watch the last games," he said.
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But a potential injury to Diogo Dalot may have handed Guardiola at least one solution to his problems.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka did not play in United's 6-3 loss against City, but he did play in the 2-0 defeat in November of the 2021/22 campaign. Both goals during that match came down the English right-back's side of the pitch.
When City deployed Raheem Sterling against Wan-Bissaka, the winger was constantly shut down by the defender. This was because the 28-year-old consistently tried to take him on one vs one and the right back thrives in those scenarios.
So Guardiola changed it up. In that game he played Phil Foden out on the left wing, as he has done on many occasions this season, and set a trap for Wan-Bissaka.
Whenever Wan-Bissaka stepped out to Foden to defend against the City midfielder dribbling inside, the 22-year-old would wait and stand by the touchline. When Wan-Bissaka had fully committed to defending him, he would then pass the ball into the space behind which Joao Cancelo would run into.
Time after time City would exploit this and Ten Hag will have to be aware of this going into the derby if Dalot is injured. Luckily, United will have both Raphael Varane and Casemiro in their starting XI who will help to limit the damage, but with Erling Haaland upfront, their opponents only need one or two opportunities.
A win would put United within one point of City and though they are the underdogs, Ten Hag will want to win to clearly show the side's progression over the course of the season.
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