Manchester City eased past insipid city rivals Manchester United in the derby and took a crucial step towards defending the title.
Goals from Bernardo Silva and Leroy Sane in the second half secured all three points for Pep Guardiola’s men at Old Trafford.
Andreas Pereira was handed a rare start, his first since United’s Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain last month.
We take a look at how the 23-year-old performed in the derby.
KEY-STATS
Minutes: 72
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
Shots (on target): 2 (0)
Passes (success rate): 19 (79%)
Dribbles: 1
Tackles: 1
Interceptions: 2
Dispossessed: 5
30-SECOND REPORT
If this was Pereira’s chance to shine and stake a claim for a place in the midfield next season, he didn’t do a lot of justice. The youngster ghosted in midfield and looked vulnerable to City’s press.
At times it looked like he was not on the same wavelength as Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford and was hence dispossessed on several occasions.
Defensively, Pereira was average at best. In attack, he provided no threat whatsoever and was taken off after United conceded their second.
#MUFC are beaten at Old Trafford. #MUNMCI pic.twitter.com/FmywLdHn8M
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) April 24, 2019
GOT RIGHT – Touches and defensive actions
The Brazilian had a couple of good touches in midfield and won the ball back in some crunch situations.
He also made a crucial interception on the right wing at a pass directed towards Raheem Sterling.
In the initial few moments when United looked to be the better team, Pereira was confidently halting City’s attacks and dispossessing them.
GOT WRONG – Press resistance
Press-resistance is a virtue and a player can’t be crucified for the lack thereof. But Periera’s show against City contained a different level of vulnerability to press.
The fact that he was dispossessed five times is evidence that Pereira really found it hard to play past City’s press. This attribute of his game prevented United’s counter attacks from taking off.
VERDICT
It’s fair to say that Pereira failed to make the most of the opportunity presented to him. He has not displayed anything close to the quality he showed while on loan at Valencia.
There are a lot of aspects the youngster needs to work on, with press-resistance and decision-making being the most important ones.
It would do him good if he improves his off-the-ball movements too, given how often he was positioned closer to the goal, leaving a void in midfield.
In Pereira’s defence, he was handed a rare start against one of the best midfields in the league and he was far from being United’s worst player. But he does need to step up his game when handed the chance to represent the club.
Rating: 5/10
