Man City vs MU - who will pay the price for the goalkeeper?

Donnarumma could start in the Manchester derby.

The “keeper trap” - the pressing style of Manchester United and Manchester City to exploit mistakes from the opponent - promises to be the key to deciding the derby.

Big stage for two new faces

Transfer deadline day changed the face of the Manchester derby. Pep Guardiola brought in Gianluigi Donnarumma, while Ruben Amorim signed Senne Lammens. Both could make their debuts in England's biggest game. It was an unprecedented scenario: the first Manchester derby to feature two new signings in goal.

Donnarumma’s shot-stopping ability is undeniable. But the Italian goalkeeper’s biggest weakness is his legs – the area Pep always demands the most. Meanwhile, Lammens is famous for his confident footwork, knowing how to “stop the ball” to lure pressing. But the Premier League is not Belgium, and the Manchester derby is certainly not a place to practice.

Amorim has to choose between the safety of Altay Bayindir and being bold with Lammens. Pep has to consider whether to immediately start Donnarumma or trust James Trafford - who is familiar with building the game from the back.

In Amorim’s philosophy, pressing is not just about winning the ball back, but also a trap. Man United can switch from 3-4-3 to 4-4-2 diamond when pressing the opponent. They deliberately leave a Man City player open, forcing Donnarumma to pass the ball into that position. When the ball leaves the feet, the whole Man United team immediately pushes to block the turning direction, forcing the opponent to make a mistake.

This is especially dangerous if Donnarumma starts. His footwork was questioned at PSG, and if United succeed in this scenario, the Etihad could see some heart-stopping moments. City prefer to play from the back, but a deflected pass from the goalkeeper could open up a counter-attacking opportunity for the Red Devils.

Lammens could make his Man Utd debut in the Manchester derby.

City, on the other hand, are not sitting still. Pep has observed how United play under Amorim: when they play from Bayindir, the cross-wing passes are usually accurate. But if Lammens makes his debut, City could set a trap. By exposing his No. 8s, Pep wants to lure Lammens into the middle and then close him down. With his inexperience, the Belgian goalkeeper could become a weak point.

This is why many experts advise Amorim to keep Bayindir - who is used to the pressure of the Premier League - for this match. A mistake by Lammens will not only cost him a goal, but also shake the team's mentality.

Pep Guardiola has never given up on playing from the back. No matter who the opponent is, Man City always tries to develop with short passes, stretching the opponent's formation. But this time, the pressure comes from the goal.

Tottenham and Brighton show how to beat Man City: leave four players up front, suffocate the midfield and wait for the moment the defence is exposed. Man United, with Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko, can replicate that scenario. If Pep tries to maintain a 2-3-5, the risk is even greater. A safer option is to put Nathan Aké in a back three, secure the ball before thinking about attacking.

Amorim and the human resource problem

Man United have been the most direct team in the Premier League this season. They have created plenty of chances from quick attacks, but have yet to score from them. The derby is a chance to break the curse.

Sesko, with his aerial prowess, is seen as a logical choice. Spurs used Richarlison to torment Man City; Man United could do the same.

Donnarumma is not good with his feet.

If Cunha is not back in time, Amorim must trust Sesko even more to maintain the balance. Amad Diallo, the “hero” who humiliated Matheus Nunes last season, can also be a strategic card on the left wing.

The most interesting thing about this Manchester derby is not the number of goals, but the way they come. Both teams are pressing high, both are experimenting with new goalkeepers, and both have reason to doubt the safety of their own half.

A wrong pass from Donnarumma, a moment of confusion from Lammens or Bayindir, can decide the whole match. In a tense game, mistakes do not come from the defense or the strikers, but from the goalkeeper.

The Manchester derby has never lacked excitement, but this year, it has been all about goalkeeping. Amorim and Pep both have to answer the question: will they dare to put their trust in the new legs, in a match where the smallest mistake can cost them blood?

This match could become a living testament to the concept of the “keeper trap” – where victory is not just decided by a Haaland or Mbeumo goal, but by the first touch from the goalkeeper.

Source: https://znews.vn/man-city-gap-mu-ai-se-tra-gia-vi-thu-mon-post1584620.html