Just eight minutes into the game, United started the game with a brilliant 1-0 lead, which seemed to indicate a good result to come; However, in the final stage, they lost to their opponents with an embarrassing 1:3. For the current coach of the Red Devils, Mr Ten Hag, perhaps this bitter end is too much to bear.
This is a 192nd Premier League derby, and it was a wonderful off-site encounter between Manchester United and Manchester City. Marcus Rashford's breathtaking, world-class long-range strike gave the Red Devils a glimmer of victory, but Foden's two goals in quick succession put United in a difficult position like a bitter reality. In the 91st minute, the Red Devils were breached again
Amrabat played the ball in from behind and Ramrabat chested it away in an attempt to get away from Rodri's powerful pressing. However, Amrabat's actions appeared to be a little sluggish, and his intentions were too obvious. Rodri easily stretched out his right foot and intercepted the ball with ease in a split second.
City took the opportunity to launch a fierce attack, with Rodri cleverly passing the ball to the feet of Haaland, who fired a low left-footed shot with his pinpoint left foot straight through Onana's fingers. 1:3, this goal not only announced that Manchester United's defeat had come, but also the final judgment of their "death sentence". So, who is to blame for the staggering goal conceded? The answer clearly falls on Amrabat.
Amrabat put too much trust in himself – or rather in a state of confusion – in the face of Rodri, Haaland and Alvarez – in an all-encompassing attack, which led to Rodri being able to easily cut off his ball, making a terrible mistake and giving City a goal for nothing. The Red Devils Manchester United's backfield passing tactics are inherently risky, and the core factor that really leads to the problem is Amrabat's own lack of ability.
Amrabat came on in the 82nd minute, but the shocking thing happened just nine minutes later: he made a big mistake in the final moments of the game and became the hero of Manchester City. According to the English Professional Football Analysis** (OPTA), the Moroccan striker was of little use in the game, with only four touches and three passes, only two of which were successful and the other was a fatal mistake. When the Red Devils hoped that Amrabat would be able to withstand Manchester City's frenzied attacks, they never imagined that he would not play well, like a ghost inside Manchester City.
Amrabat received just three points in the Manchester Evening News' post-match rating for the game, making no comment on it. That already holds all the message, and the Moroccan player clearly can't stay at Manchester United after such poor performances. His loan deal will expire this summer and he will return to Fiorentina at that time.
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is naturally responsible for the painful defeat
When Ten Hag decided to replace Mainou with Amrabat at 2-1, and then Forson replaced Garnacho, it was undoubtedly tantamount to giving up the attack, which was definitely a major mistake in the Red Devils manager's substitution decision. The Manchester Evening News commented that Ten Hag's start-up and line-up were very original: he put Fernandes on the back foot and left plenty of room for Rashford to counter-attack. However, when he chooses to send Anthony and Amrabat, his fate seems to be predestined.