CurrentReport Blog In a hard-fought Premier League derby at Old Trafford, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola acknowledged that his team found it challenging to break down Manchester United’s defensive formation. The match ended in a goalless draw, with City having a few chances, mainly through Omar Marmoush, but failing to get past United’s goalkeeper, André Onana.
Guardiola praised United’s tactical approach, revealing that the 5-4-1 formation they employed made it difficult for his side to find openings. “We know that playing against a 5-4-1 is always difficult. They defended very narrowly and allowed us only to operate on the flanks, outside the congestion,” he said. “For many years, I’ve come up against teams using the 5-4-1, defending deep. So it’s nothing new. Normally, we manage to find a way through because of the quality and talent of our players.”
However, Guardiola admitted that sometimes, factors like sharpness and composure could be lacking in key moments, preventing City from capitalizing on the opportunities that arose. “They didn’t play brilliantly, but we weren’t in a position to punish them either. They tried, we tried — but we weren’t good enough in key moments to really hurt them or take advantage of the spaces that opened up,” he concluded.
Despite the stalemate, both sides displayed resilience, with United managing to hold their ground against the defending champions. Guardiola’s comments highlight the tactical battles that shape Premier League derbies, where even the most talented teams can struggle against well-organized defenses.
