After noting United’s weaknesses so astutely
What Mancini do was straightforward Nike soccer cleats adequate to plot, tougher to execute. Noting that United’s key inventive attacking supply is near to the wings, he occupied Ashley youthful and Nani by actively playing his two full-backs considerable up the pitch. Then, he limited their provide by bringing his broad males inside, flooding the center of midfield – United’s long-standing weakness – and therefore keeping possession.
From midway inside the earliest half, James Milner, Yaya Toure, Gareth Barry moreover to the magnificent David Silva totally overwhelmed Darren Fletcher and Anderson who, with youthful and Nani otherwise occupied and never coming within to help, have been hopelessly out-numbered. Fletcher ran as he continually does. Anderson merely gave the ball away.
After noting United’s weaknesses so astutely, what Mancini cannot have expected, however, was how bad the residence facet was inside the Nike Mercurial Superfly center of defence.
Whatever United’s weaknesses, city have been excellent. Milner and Micah Richards have been superb, the latter producing one of the most near to the spaces near to the precise subjected with a somnolent Patrice Evra, suffering his worst spell of type contemplating that he arrived to England.