Manchester United just missing ‘hard work’ rather than players like De Bruyne and Haaland

When you watch that second Erling Haaland goal and think it shows you that Manchester United don’t work hard enough, we feel sorry for you.

Running up that hill…
Sorry but this is nonsense from the Daily Mail…

‘IAN LADYMAN: Erling Haaland’s fabulous second goal summed up the difference between the two Manchester rivals. Everything City do is underpinned by hard work… but for some United players, maximum effort looks like an option’

The difference between the Manchester rivals was summed up by the second goal. But let’s not reduce this to some nebulous concept about ‘hard work’. That’s reductionist and unhelpful. This was about Manchester City being brilliant with phenomenal players in the form of their lives, with the confidence to match.

Manchester United were outplayed, pure and simple. And they looked like they knew they were going to be outplayed. There was no lack of effort, just a massive lack of quality, belief and bravery.

As Ladyman’s Daily Mail colleague Ian Ladyman wrote: ‘United’s fragile confidence crumbled in the face of an irresistible City team performance and the individual brilliance of Erling Haaland, Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne.’

And yet Ladyman watched that third Manchester City goal – and Haaland’s second – and somehow decided that the story was United’s lack of work eithic.

‘As a rare United forward move broke down in centre field, Jack Grealish carried the ball in to opposition territory.

‘Seeing the danger but not realising it was his job to close it down, Christian Eriksen took two steps away and then, far too late, attempted to make up ground back towards the ball.’

Mediawatch has watched this goal seven times in a row and at no point does Eriksen run away; he simply can’t block the pass. He tries but Grealish is too quick and too good.

Ladyman then describes De Bruyne’s options when receiving the ball and then writes ‘to reach Erling Haaland at the far post, De Bruyne’s right-footed cross had to bypass two United defenders and then, most difficult of all, find that elusive channel between goalkeeper and a covering red shirt’.

It was a phenomenal ball. And that’s the difference between Manchester City and United. The latter do not have a De Bruyne to make that ball and they do not have a Haaland to finish that chance.

‘It was a fabulous City goal that said everything about them and much about United too. Everything City do under coach Pep Guardiola is…