Fernandinho Will Play The Decisive Role In The Manchester Derby

Fernandinho Will Play The Decisive Role In The Manchester Derby
14:16, 09 Dec 2017

Sunday’s Manchester Derby is one that could have a long lasting effect in the race for the Premier League title. Manchester City have dropped just two points this season and are eight points ahead of rivals and second placed Manchester United in the battle for the crown. United have fought valiantly to keep City in their crosshairs where others have fallen by the wayside, but defeat on Sunday could effectively see the title wrapped up and headed for the Etihad Stadium in time for Christmas given City’s storming form.

However, there are reasons for United to be hopeful. Jose Mourinho’s side are on a 40-match unbeaten run at Old Trafford, a streak that started in City’s 2-1 win at United last season. What’s more, only one team has ever made up an eight-point gap between the team at the top and those below 1st after 15 matches and that team was – you guessed it – United, who have achieved the feat twice since the inaugural Premier League season back in 1992.

Like last week at Arsenal, United aren’t expected to see much of the ball against City, given Sunday’s visitors’ penchant for possession. Pep Guardiola’s side are averaging more possession (66.4%) than any other team in Europe’s top five leagues this season, while United are prone to allowing opponents the ball as they have done this term, particularly against last season’s top-6. Indeed, in meetings with Chelsea, Tottenham, Liverpool and Arsenal, United’s average possession was 38.4%, while at the Emirates last weekend, that figure was as low as 24.9%.

United sat deep and soaked up pressure, before hitting Arsenal on the counter with ruthless efficiency, scoring three goals from just four shots on target. They pressed intelligently, forcing Laurent Koscielny and Shkodran Mustafi into mistakes to take the initiative early on, and could implement a similar approach on Sunday, even with Paul Pogba’s suspension. Only Liverpool (7) have scored more counter attacking goals than United (4) in the Premier League this season and much of the reason for Arsenal’s defensive failings in their 3-1 home defeat came about as a result of a lack of designated holding midfielder.

City won’t have such issues, however, with Fernandinho widely expected to anchor the midfield once more. While City’s fluid attack has drawn plenty of plaudits, they’re allowed to express themselves creatively with the Brazilian shielding the defence. There is a solid foundation to work with when Fernandinho performs to his best as City are reaping the rewards having scored more goals (46) than any other Premier League team this season, a return only PSG (48) can better in Europe’s top five leagues.

The 32-year-old’s influence in midfield flies under the radar, but he’s arguably one of City’s most important players and he should prove why once again on Sunday. No City player is averaging more tackles per league game than Fernandinho (2.1) this season and his ability to rob the opposition of possession has ensured only United (9) have conceded fewer Premier League goals than City (10) after 15 matches.

However, a ball winner in the middle of the park is wasted if they’re unable to successfully retain possession once of they have control, though Fernandinho has no such issues. Only teammate Nicolas Otamendi (1145) has made more accurate passes than Fernandinho (1132) in England’s top tier this term. With a willingness to drop between the centre-backs when the two central defenders pull wide, he offers another outlet close to the City goal to build attacks from the back.

It’s Fernandinho’s positional and defensive discipline that means he should play a key role in the Manchester Derby, though. City need to be wary of committing too many men forward and being caught short at the back. While United are not expected to come flying out of the blocks, even with home advantage, they still have the personnel to hurt City if they have the chance to bomb forward after soaking up the pressure. City are widely expected to dominate possession on Sunday, though it may well be that Fernandinho has the decisive role to play in his side’s quest to secure a record breaking 14th successive Premier League win in a single season and take another huge step towards the title.

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