Bruno Fernandes Admits Manchester City Creates United Defense Line For Sustainability

JAKARTA - The Manchester Derby is over. Manchester City submerged Manchester United 3-1 in the match week 27 of the 2023/2024 Premier League at the Etihad Stadium, Sunday, March 3, 2024.

The Red Devils captain, Bruno Fernandes, admits that the hosts created United's defense.

The Citizens, who are constantly pressing, forced the visitors to stay too deep, especially in the second half.

As is known, City fell behind through Marcus Rashford's goal in the eighth minute. United's advantage lasted until halftime.

In the second half, Pep Guardiola's team clearly needed goals so they wouldn't be ashamed in front of the public themselves so that the intensity of the attack was increased. So heavy the City attack, United could not contain it.

"Sometimes we play too deep, but you know City did that to all the teams. You have to keep your penalty box."

"We did very well in the first half. However, in the end we conceded to make the score 1-1."

"There are always other things you can do in the game, whether it's against City or other clubs. You can always do something better. City is a team that knows how to control the ball and detain opponents," said Bruno Fernandes.

Bruno Fernandes further realized that Manchester City had the ability to make United unable to control the ball.

The Red Devils' aggressiveness with possession in the first half did not occur in the second half. Pep Guardiola's troops were able to reduce the visitors.

As a result, the lack of a shift in possession was a factor for Manchester United to miss a lot in the second half.

"We knew we had to defend our goal very well. I thought we did. We should have controlled the ball more often, unlike the second half," said Bruno Fernandes.

Apart from that, the Portugal national team midfielder can still take the positives from the defeat against Mancehster City.

"We have a chance (to win). I think the commitment from the team is there (to perform better)," said the 29-year-old.

The defeat to City made Manchester United swallow negative results from the last two 2023/2024 Premier League matches.

Before traveling to the Etihad Stadium, Erik ten Hag's troops lost to Fulham 1-2 at Old Trafford.

Inconsistency is still United's main problem. In fact, before these two latest defeats, they were in a positive trend with four consecutive wins in the 2023/2024 Premier League.