The derby proved a fine night for the Manchester sides in the race for the Champions League, but it is also abundantly clear where both teams need to reinforce before next season
1) Race for fourth remains in hands of protagonists
This draw suits Manchester City and Manchester United as it moved them a point closer to Liverpool and will allow each to overtake Jürgen Klopp’s side in the race for a Champions League berth if they win their game in hand. José Mourinho had said: “Our mentality now is to try to forget what is waiting for us and concentrate on this game. I don’t deny the Europa League is our main target but we have to forget about it.” This was a reference to the fact that winning the second tier European club competition gives access to the Champions League. It may also have been cute managerial speak as United emerged with their Premier League unbeaten run stretched to 24 matches and carrying the look of a side moving in the right direction. In what has become a trying debut season in English football Pep Guardiola should also be relieved his team did not lose.
2) Requirements for next season are confirmed
Whatever the outcome of the race for Champions League places both sides should already have a firm idea on what is required to compete at the very top of the Premier League. For City, surgery is needed at the back. A Claudio Bravo flap that pushed the ball into Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s path when he had a defender behind was the kind of moment that has cost Guardiola’s side this season. As well as resolving the goalkeeper position the manager desperately needs two quick full-backs, because Pablo Zabaleta and Aleksandar Kolarov offered little going forward. For United, Marouane Fellaini proved he is no playmaking midfielder by failing to release Marcus Rashford, who was screaming for the ball. With the peerless Michael Carrick 36 in July, Mourinho has to strengthen in this department.
3) United’s No19 dazzles again
After using Ander Herrera to snuff out Eden Hazard in the defeat of Chelsea, the derby’s tactical eyebrow-raiser from José Mourinho was the positioning of Henrikh Mkhitaryan as a centre-forward. Given Marcus Rashford’s presence on the right the question was whether the manager would switch the two and so it proved; the theory seemed to be this might confuse City. Of a visiting attack that also featured Anthony Martial, Guardiola said: “They are so fast in front, they are going to attack right in behind. They are a tough team.” Inside two minutes Rashford broke the contest open with a sprint along the right. Later an audacious back-heel around-the-corner made a mug of Nicolás Otamendi, the unfortunate City defender who often found himself tasked with dealing with the lively 19-year-old. Rashford scored the winner here in March last year and this was another standout display from a player brimming with potential.
4) Kompany’s future remains in the balance
It was the first time the City captain had started a third consecutive game since March of last season and just as in his previous outings the 31-year-old impressed. The issue, though, is not how well Vincent Kompany can play until the end of this season but whether Pep Guardiola can rely on him being regularly available next term. Even if the Belgian suffers no more problems between now and the start of the 2017-18 campaign his unfortunate track record of injury means it may be difficult for the manager to make Kompany integral to his plans. One princely sliding tackle that dispossessed Anthony Martial when at full tilt showed precisely what the central defender is about, and his presence alone gives confidence to a City rearguard that is the team’s achilles heel. Kompany has two years left on his contract and despite his accomplished return, Guardiola is no closer than last summer to knowing whether the player should see those out.
5) Latest instalment proves the derby still delivers
This edition of a fixture that stretches back to the 1890s was an open affair despite José Mourinho’s view before kick-off: “I expect them to have a lot of possession, because that’s the way they normally play but we also want the ball because that’s also how we normally play,” he said. “But I think they’re going to have more of the ball.” Yet City did not hog the ball as predicted and there was little of the early season pinball wizardry from Guardiola’s side. This was like two well-matched fighters going toe-to-toe landing jabs and haymakers and having to soak up the same in return. The vibrant nature of the game may not have pleased managers who reach for total control but it did make for refreshing viewing.
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