Manchester United will be hoping to claim a first Premier League double over noisy neighbours Manchester City since 2020 at Old Trafford this afternoon.
Ruben Amorim’s side claimed a 2-1 victory over Pep Guardiola’s men at the Etihad back in December, with Amad Diallo’s stoppage-time strike claiming all three points.
However, it hasn’t been all plain sailing for the Red Devils since the Derby Day triumph, losing eight times across all competitions – with the Europa League their only chance of claiming a trophy this season.
A win this afternoon could put a dent in City’s Champions League qualification ambitions, whilst also giving the fanbase a reason to celebrate in what has been a year to forget.
If they are to achieve such a feat, it’s vital that the manager makes a huge call and drops one player from the starting eleven ahead of the big clash in the North West.
Why Garnacho needs to be dropped against City
Attacker Alejandro Garnacho has massively struggled to adapt to Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system since the 40-year-old’s appointment back in early November.
The Argentine likes to operate off the left-hand side and cut onto his favoured foot, but has been unable to do so with the switch which has resulted in him operating more centrally.
His showing on Tuesday night against Nottingham Forest was one to forget, registering six efforts on goal, whilst being unable to get any of them on target – undoubtedly contributing to the defeat.
The 20-year-old also only completed 33% of his attempted dribbles, whilst completing none of the seven crosses he delivered into the box, showcasing his lack of attacking threat at the City Ground.
Given his performance, the manager needs to drop him from his starting eleven against their local rivals and subsequently giving the opportunity for one other star to impress at the Theatre of Dreams.
The player who Amorim must start against City
The lack of attacking threat at United has been evident for some months now, with the Red Devils only scoring 37 times in 30 matches – with only five sides scoring fewer.
Bruno Fernandes remains the club’s top scorer with eight league goals in 2024/25, highlighting the issues Amorim has had to face in his first few months in charge.
However, he could combat some issues by handing a rare start to midfielder Mason Mount, who made his first appearance since December in the defeat in midweek.
The 26-year-old sustained a hamstring injury in the last Manchester derby but could be handed just his third start since the manager took the reins five months ago.
He’s ultimately failed to deliver since his £60m move to Old Trafford back in 2023, with injuries massively plaguing his progress and preventing him from being a regular starter.
However, he is a natural number ten, having the skillset to feature in Amorim’s system behind the striker, making him a better option than Garnacho in such a role.
Mount, who’s previously been labelled “phenomenal” by creator Alex Goldberg, has previously demonstrated glimpses of his quality – most notably in the manager’s second game in charge against Bodo Glimt – unlucky not to get on the scoresheet after hitting the woodwork.
Games played
9
Minutes played
259
Pass accuracy
82%
Chances created
1.4
Shots taken
1.4
Fouls won
1.5
Duels won
4.2
Despite his limited minutes this campaign, the former Chelsea star has produced numerous impressive figures, deserving of an opportunity to adhere himself to the supporters in a huge fixture.
Unsurprisingly, questions have been asked about his long-term future given his injury record, but he needs a consistent run to showcase his talents – with the perfect opportunity coming this afternoon.
It will be a huge boost should the side complete a double over their local rivals, with Mount potentially having a key role to play should he start at Old Trafford.
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