How Man Utd can hurt Man City with their ‘postman’ strategy to thwart Enzo Maresca’s ‘clone rangers’

MANCHESTER UNITED will be looking to expose a Manchester City weakness when the two rivals meet at Old Trafford on Sunday.

With now gone and having replaced him, the Sky Blues have adopted a slightly new approach to games.

It has worked in the so far, with having won each of their opening three games.

But one area has appeared slightly vulnerable at time – and the Red Devils will seek to expose it with the help of a ‘bouncer’ move and a ‘postman’ strategy.

In the latest episode of SunSport’s Tactics Exposed, our tactics expert Dean Scoggins looks at how can capitalise on City’s setup.

THE ‘BOUNCER’

Man Utd set up in a 4-2-3-1 – although they will probably slot into more of a 4-4-2 with and playing as the two highest players.

City also set up in a 4-2-3-1 but will push high in the game to a 3-1-6 shape.

Unlike the way Guardiola and approach a game, instead of a centre midfielder playing between the centre-backs in that attacking formation, the left-sided defender moves into the middle – in this case, it’s , although with City it could be anyone – which allows to roam in midfield.

City can then hurt teams on the edge of the box through the likes of , , etc.

Maresca has been building up with one in the middle, meaning the three players left in defence see a lot of the ball.

Fixtures Results Table

Saturday 12 September

Bournemouth

15:00

EPL

Brentford

Villa

15:00

EPL

Forest

Chelsea

15:00

EPL

Hull

Palace

15:00

EPL

Ipswich

Liverpool

15:00

EPL

Fulham

Spurs

17:30

EPL

Everton

Sunderland

20:00

EPL

Arsenal

Sunday 6 September

Saturday 5 September

English Premier League Pld Pts GD W D L Form

1

3

9

5

3

0

0

2

3

9

5

3

0

0

3

3

7

3

2

1

0

4

3

6

1

2

0

1

5

3

5

3

1

2

0

6

3

5

2

1

2

0

7

3

5

2

1

2

0

8

3

5

2

1

2

0

However, that will give Man Utd a big opportunity to attack the wide spaces behind the defence with a ‘bouncer’ move, which could really hurt City.

With over on the left, instead of him being wide and stretching the pitch, United will want him moving inside slightly to keep the Man City defenders narrow.

Then, when Man Utd win the ball back, the England star can move wide again, giving the right-sided City defender a dilemma – follow him or stay narrow.

The same goes for on the right.

exposed the space in the Man City midfield at times during the on Tuesday.

THE ‘POSTMAN’

Questions have been raised about United’s ‘false nine’ setup, and whether operating without a natural centre-forward is truly effective.

, United struggled because they kept floating deep crosses into the box towards Fernandes and Cunha.

Against physical central defenders, that simply does not work. If sticks with this system against City, United must alter their crossing strategy.

Rashford, , or need to work combinations to get in behind near the byline.

From there, they shouldn’t hit deep hanging crosses, but rather sharp cut-backs into the penalty area as arriving runners crash the box.

Playing against City is completely different.

City will dominate territory higher up the pitch, meaning United desperately need a “postman” – the man you play the ball up to as you look to attack.

Whether Carrick selects or Cunha for that role, the “postman” is the focal point who receives the initial pass out from defence.

He acts as the post for the attackers to play off, allowing the rest of the team to push up and progress forward.

This becomes vital because Maresca has introduced a man-for-man high press.

We saw against Porto how City’s full-backs and midfielders jump forward to shadow their opponents.

When or a central midfielder jumps out of position to press, it leaves massive gaps right in front of City’s backline.

A disciplined postman standing between the lines will easily receive vertical passes from deep and trigger deadly counter-attacks.

CLONE RANGERS

Can Fernandez, Cherki, and Foden all play together in the same City midfield? Absolutely – and it could be sensational to watch.

In Maresca’s 3-1-6 structure, Nunes pushes high to give width on the right, Gvardiol tucks into the back three, and Anderson or Ayyoub Bouaddi sits as the single pivot.

That allows Foden, Cherki and Fernandez to operate in the half-spaces right on the edge of the opposition penalty box.

These three are like ‘Clone Rangers’ — technically gifted playmakers who thrive in tight areas.

They constantly interchange positions. If Foden drops deep to demand the ball, Cherki drifts into his space, and Fernandez surges into the box.

United will want to keep their defensive lines narrow, but the movement of these three inside tight gaps can dismantle any low block.

The crucial glue holding this together is Fernandez. Much like did for Guardiola, Fernandez acts as City’s tactical Swiss Army knife.

While Foden and Cherki are pure attackers, Fernandez possesses the defensive awareness and work rate to cover ground rapidly.

When United attempt their quick bounce pass out of defence, Fernandez will be the man tasked with anticipating the play, stepping in to regain possession in the transition, and immediately setting City back on the attack.