Manchester United's Ongoing Struggles Highlighted After Derby Loss
Manchester United continues to face persistent challenges, with recurring issues undermining their performance.
The team appears to be making the same mistakes repeatedly, many of which are easily avoidable.
Having observed every minute of United's four Premier League matches this season, it is evident that there are areas requiring improvement, which seems somewhat paradoxical following their recent 3-0 defeat in the derby.
Under Ruben Amorim's management, I have consistently pointed out the shortcomings of the 3-4-2-1 formation, which I do not favor. However, it is clear that the team has worked on it, and some progress is visible.
United now appears more cohesive both in attack and defense. They maintain a more compact shape, with reduced distances between lines, making it more challenging for opponents to penetrate.
Unfortunately for Amorim, these improvements have been overshadowed by avoidable mistakes that lead to conceding goals and dropping points.
For instance, when analyzing the goals conceded this season, including Phil Foden's opener for Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, it becomes apparent that selection issues and mispositioned players are more to blame than the formation itself.
A Simple Run by Foden Was All It Took
In the first half against City, United performed commendably, winning the ball back several times in advanced positions. With a bit more precision in their counter-attacks, they could have scored themselves.
One of the challenges with Amorim's 3-4-2-1 formation is that the two holding midfielders can sometimes be outnumbered. However, this did not occur at the Etihad Stadium, as Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo, positioned alongside Benjamin Sesko, effectively dropped back.
This tactical adjustment helped Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte in midfield by eliminating significant gaps. Throughout the match, the defense and midfield maintained closer proximity, avoiding the disorganization seen last season due to a lack of pace and confidence.
City did not dismantle United's defense completely, and their first goal was not a result of that either.
In that instance, Fernandes, who is arguably one of the world's best number 10s, was playing a deeper center-midfield role as an eight, which does not align with his defensive instincts. A simple run from Phil Foden behind him was all it took for him to lose track of the play.
While some might argue that Luke Shaw could have reacted better once the ball was in the box, Foden was already in a favorable position because Fernandes had momentarily switched off.
As I noted on Match of the Day, Fernandes was caught ball-watching when the cross arrived. I do not believe he is lazy; rather, he struggles to recognize runners and identify danger.
This marks the second time this season that Fernandes has been responsible for a goal against United, having also failed to track Emile Smith Rowe for Fulham's equalizer in August.
The irony in Fernandes' performance against City was that certain aspects of his play in midfield were commendable. It is not entirely misguided to position him there, given his exceptional passing ability and technical skills.
However, the issue arises when he fails to adapt defensively. A player of his intelligence should be able to improve his awareness in such situations, but this has not materialized.
Consequently, if such lapses persist, he cannot be relied upon in that role, and it is the manager's responsibility to place players in positions where they can excel.
More Square Pegs in Round Holes?
Fernandes is not the only player at United who seems miscast in his role.
Luke Shaw has experience in a back three but has predominantly played as a dynamic left-back. It appears he is being forced into a center-back role under Amorim.
Although one could argue he possesses the quality to adapt, his failure to effectively defend against Jeremy Doku for the first goal was poor, regardless of his position. If players are not entirely comfortable in their roles, it will inevitably impact the team's performance.
For City's second goal, the issues were again not solely due to the United system but rather a combination of factors and individual errors.
Ugarte initially marked Foden but then followed the ball, similar to what led to City's opening goal, allowing Foden to go unmarked. This created a chain reaction.
Noussair Mazraoui attempted to close down Foden but could not prevent him from passing around the corner. Leny Yoro was easily bypassed by Doku, the one player who should have been tightly marked, and Shaw was unable to physically contend with Erling Haaland.
Ultimately, most goals stem from a mistake at some point. However, when players are comfortable in their roles within the system, they tend to make the right decisions, preventing such errors from accumulating.
What Next? The Same Issues Will Persist...
It is important to note that United's start to the season has not been disastrous; they should have secured a victory against Arsenal, achieved a win over Burnley, and had ample opportunities in the first half against Fulham.
However, they were thoroughly outplayed by City, and as the second half progressed, they could have conceded even more goals.
It is clear that Amorim is unlikely to alter his formation, yet he exacerbates many of his issues by selecting the wrong players for their respective positions.
While I still believe that Fernandes excels as a number 10 with two holding midfielders behind him, it seems improbable he will be afforded the opportunity to demonstrate this at United.
If United persists with the same personnel in the same system, including placing Fernandes in central midfield—a role he has not frequently played—it is likely that the recurring issues will continue.
Players rarely change their on-pitch mentality significantly, and as long as they lack balance, they will continue to be vulnerable to exploitation.
Danny Murphy was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan.