Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag tried to maximise his available squad to get a result away at City.
For 45 minutes his plan worked. An unstoppable strike from Marcus Rashford and an open goal miss from Erling Haaland saw the visitors lead at half-time.
Manchester United were unable to hold onto that lead in the second half. City’s pressure saw them go on to win the game 2-1, for a third consecutive derby win over Erik ten Hag‘s men in all competitions.
It was not happy day for United, who had to try and take away a few positives where they could, and the manager believes he has one in Bruno Fernandes.
Erik ten Hag praises Bruno Fernandes
Bruno Fernandes was played in an unusual role, asked to perform as a ‘false nine’, with Ten Hag deciding Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho would be better off out wide.
Fernandes was unable to pose a goal threat, failing to even attempt a shot at goal.
His one meaningful contribution was his assist for Marcus Rashford’s goal.
Fernandes received a long ball from goalkeeper Andre Onana, kept hold of the ball and released it into Rashford’s path, who unleashed an unstoppable shot in off the underside of the bar.
Speaking to club media, Ten Hag praised Fernandes’ versatility, commenting: “It was a free role for Bruno, to pull players out and to get runs in behind.
“But there were also moments that Bruno is a very smart player, and also to find his moments to get in behind. And from there on we created the chances like the [goal for] 1-0.”
Fernandes is putting up numbers
This was the second successive game Bruno Fernandes has provided an assist, following on from the goal he created to win United the game against Forest in midweek, with Casemiro scoring a header from his free-kick.
Fernandes is Manchester United’s assist leader, with nine in total this season. Marcus Rashford follows with six.
He has scored seven goals, equal to Alejandro Garnacho, and behind only Scott McTominay (8) and Rasmus Hojlund (16).
That’s 16 goal contributions in total, more than any other player. Hojlund’s two assists means he has 15 goal contributions in total.
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