In a recent analysis, Pep Guardiola highlighted a possible tactical error by Erik Ten Hag in Manchester United’s match against Manchester City during the Community Shield. Guardiola suggested that Ten Hag may have misjudged the timing of key substitutions, which contributed significantly to United’s defeat.
The match was closely contested, with Manchester United managing to draw 1-1 with Manchester City in regular time. However, Manchester City ultimately won in the penalty shootout. Despite the loss, several United players delivered commendable performances. Here’s a detailed look at their individual performances:
**Andre Onana:** Onana had a fairly uneventful game during regular play, but his passing lacked consistency. However, his crucial penalty save was a standout moment, leading to a performance rating of 6/10.
**Diogo Dalot:** Dalot showed strong defensive capability at right-back, effectively neutralizing City’s Doku. While he could have contributed more offensively, he compensated by successfully converting his penalty, also receiving a rating of 6/10.
**Harry Maguire:** Despite returning from a recent injury, Maguire struggled but put in a solid effort for nearly an hour. His performance was rated 6/10.
**Jonny Evans:** Amid an injury crisis, Evans played the entire match and performed well defensively, effectively containing Haaland and winning several aerial duels. However, his missed penalty was a significant letdown.
**Lisandro Martinez:** Playing as an unusual left-back, Martinez’s offensive impact was limited, but his defensive performance was excellent. He converted his penalty and earned a rating of 7/10.
**Casemiro:** Casemiro demonstrated his best form in recent weeks, being solid defensively and effective with the ball. He confidently scored his penalty, earning a rating of 7/10.
**Casemiro:** Casemiro showcased his best form in recent weeks, performing reliably both defensively and with the ball. He scored his penalty confidently and earned a rating of 7/10.
**Kobbie Mainoo:** Making his season debut, Mainoo had a solid performance for an hour, receiving a rating of 6/10.
**Bruno Fernandes:** Fernandes was instrumental in United’s attack, creating numerous chances. Although he had a remarkable goal disallowed for offside, he scored his penalty and received an 8/10 rating.
**Mason Mount:** Mount’s energy and effort were apparent as he covered a lot of ground, but his performance lacked notable highlights, leading to a rating of 5/10.
**Amad:** Amad consistently posed a threat with the ball, challenging City’s defenders and engaging in effective link-up play, earning a rating of 7/10.
**Marcus Rashford:** Rashford missed some chances but put in a solid defensive effort. His performance was rated 6/10.
**Substitutes:**
**Alejandro Garnacho:** Garnacho made an immediate impact by scoring a superb goal and converting his penalty.
**Jadon Sancho:** Sancho brought energy to the team but struggled to make a notable impact and missed his penalty.
**Facundo Pellistri:** Pellistri faced criticism for poor defensive play that contributed to Bernardo Silva’s equalizer.
**Scott McTominay:** McTominay confidently converted his penalty with a powerful shot.
**Toby Collyer:** Collyer had a brief but effective performance during his time on the field.
The varied performance ratings reveal both strengths and areas needing improvement within Manchester United’s squad. Pep Guardiola’s remarks emphasize the critical role of tactical decisions and substitutions in tight matches. To understand the specific substitution Guardiola criticized, consider which change may have disrupted Manchester United’s tactics or flow.
Guardiola’s insights emphasize the importance of tactical decisions, particularly in high-stakes matches. His critique of Ten Hag’s substitutions suggests that strategic timing and adjustments can heavily influence the outcome.
The player ratings reveal a mix of strong performances and areas needing improvement. Fernandes and Garnacho were particularly effective, while Mount and Pellistri did not stand out as much.
Substitutions can significantly impact a match. If a specific change disrupted Manchester United’s flow or strategy, it could have played a key role in the final result. Analyzing which substitution might have had this effect could offer a clearer understanding of the match dynamics.
