Man Utd Player Ratings vs Man City: Shaw Struggles, Sesko Fades in 3-0 Derby Defeat
Manchester United endured a humiliating afternoon as Manchester City sealed a dominant 3-0 derby win at the Etihad Stadium. The result leaves United with just four points from their opening four Premier League matches, adding more pressure ahead of their upcoming clash with Chelsea.
Manchester United player ratings vs Man City: Luke Shaw falters, Benjamin Sesko struggles, and Red Devils suffer heavy 3-0 derby defeat.
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Goalkeeper and Defence
Altay Bayindir (4/10): Handed the start ahead of new signing Senne Lammens, Bayindir looked nervous throughout. He spilled a Tijjani Reijnders shot and misjudged a backpass, offering little resistance on any of City’s goals.
Leny Yoro (5/10): Made several clearances but lost track of Jeremy Doku in the build-up to the second goal, exposing United’s fragile back line.
Matthijs de Ligt (6/10): The most composed of United’s defenders. Worked tirelessly to cover for his teammates but was often left stranded.
Luke Shaw (3/10): At fault for all three goals. Failed to track Phil Foden for the opener, overpowered by Erling Haaland for the second, and gave the ball away before Bernardo Silva set up the third. A rare tackle on Haaland was the only positive moment.
Midfield
Noussair Mazraoui (6/10): Provided energy going forward and worked to recover possession but could not stem City’s momentum.
Manuel Ugarte (5/10): Broke up play on occasion but his distribution repeatedly surrendered possession.
Bruno Fernandes (5/10): Ball-watched as Foden slipped behind him for City’s opener. Struggled to dictate play and his positioning highlighted ongoing midfield issues.
Patrick Dorgu (4/10): Passive against Bernardo Silva, failing to clear danger before City’s third goal. His runs forward lacked quality, with poor final delivery.
Attack
Bryan Mbeumo (6/10): The most dangerous United attacker, testing Gianluigi Donnarumma with a volley. Found good positions but finishing deserted him.
Benjamin Sesko (4/10): Ineffective in his first league start. Controlled the ball poorly, produced only one weak effort on goal, and never troubled City’s defence.
Amad Diallo (6/10): Showed flashes of creativity and continued to work hard despite the team’s struggles.
Substitutes and Manager
Kobbie Mainoo (6/10): Brought calmness in midfield and launched several promising moves, underlining his case for a starting role.
Harry Maguire (4/10): Struggled immediately after coming on, losing possession before City’s third goal and beaten for pace by Haaland.
Joshua Zirkzee (N/A): Introduced late with little time to influence the match.
Casemiro (N/A): Missed a clear chance from close range.
Ruben Amorim (4/10): Team selection and tactics invited criticism. Persisting with Fernandes in midfield backfired, while Mainoo’s impact highlighted a missed opportunity from the start. Lack of cohesion and intensity raised further concerns over his management.
Manchester City’s victory was inspired by Phil Foden, Erling Haaland, and Jeremy Doku, who combined to dismantle United’s defensive frailties. The Red Devils now face a crucial response when they meet Chelsea in their next Premier League fixture.
