DBasia.news – Arsene Wenger, former Arsenal coach, criticized Manchester United’s first-half performance in a 6-3 thrashing of Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium and criticized two United players.
The Red Devils conceded 4 goals in the first half before Erling Haaland and Phil Foden completed their respective hat-tricks in the second half, although the visitors did not give up and scored 3 goals from Antony and Anthony Martial.
Wenger felt that the Manchester derby was won on the flanks. He criticized the winger duo Antony and Jadon Sancho for not contributing while defending so that their team-mates behind them were exposed.
“What made me find it hard to believe in the first half was that Man United defended really badly on the flanks,” the legendary Arsenal manager told beIN Sports.
“From the first minute Diogo Dalot was booked and Jadon Sancho and Antony didn’t contribute in defence.”
“They were, in the first half, surrounded on the flanks and always in trouble.”
“After that, when they had the ball, I felt they were obsessed with sticking to strategy too much. They always wanted to go too fast so they often lost the ball and didn’t have enough possession.”
“They didn’t keep possession, they just wanted to counter-attack.”
Man United had played with 10 players after Raphael Varane had to be sidelined temporarily due to an ankle injury.
The French defender was not allowed to return to the pitch when Man City scored the second from a corner, with Haaland guarded by Christian Eriksen, which certainly didn’t end well.
“The only positive thing for them is that they conceded the second goal when Varane [wasn’t on the pitch]. And when I saw Eriksen guard Haaland, I was worried about Man United.”