By now, it shouldn’t surprise us when United plays a solid performance.

There’s a clear path being made, and one needs to be really naive, biased or, even, blind to miss it.

This match presented some changes, with Maguire returning to the defensive line, along with Mazraoui and Yoro (what a player he’s becoming!), a midfield with Ugarte and Casemiro as holder midfielders and Højlund back to the Striker position.

Therefore, I start today’s analysis by reinforcing something I mentioned before – we are going to see a lot more of Ugarte and Casemiro in the midfield.

Their performances are yet not perfect.

Mainly because Ugarte is still trying to find his feet on a different role, that forces him to not only be the aggressive player that can get the ball back immediately, provide stability and strength to the midfield, but also the one that can provide passing options, clear the Game once recovered, be closer to finishing areas and make consistent good decisions.

Basically, to be more a “8”, or box-to-box, than a “6”, or holding midfielder.

On the other hand, Casemiro is performing amazing!

His growth within Ruben’s Style of Play is both remarkable and surprising, specially if we look at his first appearances in the team under the new Coach.

The tempo of his tackles, the subtlety with which he faces a defensive 1v1 just as the simpleness of his processes once the ball is recovered, clearing the ball to the team to progress (mainly by switching sides and avoiding overcrowded areas) can help us to understand why he was able to perform at one of the greatest midfielders line of all time, at Real Madrid, with Modric and Kroos, and winning 5 (!) Champions League.

Remarkable!

The defensive line continues their growth, as it’s been more regular now.

The team conceded 10 goals in the last 10 matches (average 1 per Game), a constant growth from 13 in the previous 10 matches before those, and 19 goals conceded in the previous 10 before those (the first 10 under Ruben Amorim).

Constant growth and another data point proving that, for those that can’t see progress!

Individual stats weren’t amazing, specially on duels (ie. Average of 50% duels won between the 3) and some space was there between Maguire (CB) and Yoro or Mazraoui, when the ball was traveling from one side to the other, but in general the team performed well defensively and didn’t allow much space or opportunities to City’s side.

Now, the problems are in the attack.

It doesn’t necessarily mean that players are really bad individually, but they aren’t good enough. 

Yet.

Because they are all very young – Garnacho is 20, Højlund and Amad are 22, Zirkzee is 23 – and still have time to improve.

However, it’s too much weight to put exclusively on their shoulders.

If we look at the same matches as before, now offensively, the performance went to poorer to stagnate. if we look at look at it only at the goals scored isolated, with the first 10 matches producing 20 goals scored, and the second and third group of 10 matches resulting in 15 goals scored each.

And meant isolated because if we merge both stats we could understand that the difference between gets bigger (due to the defensive improvements) and, therefore, chances of winning matches are greater (ie. First group went from a goal difference of 1 to 5 in the later group).

Another stat to prove the problems when the ball is in the attack is that from the 13 total shots taken on Manchester City’s goal, Højlund made zero and Garnacho got 2 blocked.

Additionally, Garnacho only made 2 attempts of dribbling (1 successful) and 1 attempt of crossing, not successful.

Bruno Fernandes tried 7 crosses (0 success) and got 1 shot blocked, Dorgu tried 3 crosse (1 successful) and had 2 shots off target, and Dalot tried 4 crosses (1 success and unbelievable missed chance by Garnacho) and no shot registered, which shows the teams struggles to have quality delivery and creativity upfront.

On the other side, the 3 of them won more than 50% of their duels and had a pass accuracy over 90%, which are very important elements of consistency at big matches like these.

In 3 days, the team faces Olympique Lyon, for Europa League Quarter-Finals.

The last hope to have European Competitions at Old Trafford next Season.

Everyone’s excited, hoping the team can perform and bring joy to Manchester by the end of a very difficult Season.

I’m not extremely confident, to be honest.

United has been delivering solid performances at Europa League, benefiting from the physical differences between Premier League sides and those faced in Europe matches.

However, Lyon is a physical side, guided by a Portuguese Coach that is experienced and tactically astute.

Difficult matches ahead!

Nonetheless, taking in consideration that this Competition holds teams as Bodo/Glimt, Lazio, Eintracht Frankfurt, Tottenham, Rangers, and Athletic Bilbao (besides United and Lyon) we have to think as United as a theoretical potential winner, along with Athletic Bilbao and Tottenham.

Taking in consideration where the teams are positioned, and potential paths to get to the triumph, United and Bilbao (a great contender to win this competition) may face each other in Semis, which means that Tottenham may have an easier route to reach the final, which can also be seen as a savior for a disappointing Season for the Spurs.

But, on-field action defines more than what theory predicts.

Let the Games begin!

The data presented here is taken from sofascore, transfermarkt and zerozero websites.