According to Manchester Evening News, Manchester United should continue playing Cunha as the central striker against Manchester City, rather than starting Sesko.

Manchester United will face Manchester City in the Premier League, but defensive issues are not the most pressing problem Carrick needs to solve. Sesko scored as a substitute in the closing minutes against Everton, but Manchester United could not hold onto their lead.

Manchester United's defensive vulnerabilities have been evident since the start of the 2024/25 season. Against Haaland and Manchester City, even the best defenses can be breached, so Carrick needs to consider personnel decisions in other positions.

With Amad sidelined and Sesko not yet match-fit, Carrick has previously deployed Cunha as the central striker. Cunha is fully capable of playing in this role, though he prefers to cut in from the left and operate in the space between the lines.

Rashford continues in his role from last season, while Mbeumo operates on the opposite flank. Mbeumo played as the central striker against Manchester City earlier this year and is better suited to playing in the deeper role; Cunha tends to drop deeper to receive the ball.

Cunha has scored 7 goals in 3 matches, but his positioning actually affects Manchester United's attack because he and Bruno Fernandes often occupy the same areas, forcing Bruno Fernandes to drop deeper. Against Ipswich, Bruno Fernandes still scored a hat-trick, but the match opened up quickly after Ipswich scored a penalty and then an own goal.

After Sesko scored and got more playing time, he has a chance to become a regular starter this season. However, against Manchester City might be one of the few matches where it makes more sense to continue playing Cunha as the central striker.

Manchester City are expected to dominate possession, and Manchester United need to be patient and launch counterattacks, as they did in their 2-0 victory over Manchester City at Old Trafford earlier this year. Cunha is nearly ideal for this tactic.

Cunha's ability to win fouls and his passing vision can help Mbeumo, Rashford, and others launch attacks. With his pace, Rashford is likely to be the spearhead of Manchester United's main counterattack threat behind the opposition.

Cunha can also help Manchester United prevent Manchester City from orchestrating attacks through the midfield, giving Manchester United an additional player in midfield and forcing Manchester City to attack from the wings. Manchester City certainly won't fear this, especially with Haaland having already scored 3 headers this season, but it will limit Manchester City's attacking options.

If Manchester United can take the lead first, the team may not need to bring on Sesko; but when goals are needed, the 23-year-old Sesko is one of the best options. He has scored 5 goals as a substitute since joining Manchester United, and he may be able to take advantage of Manchester City's shaky defense in the closing stages of the match.

Carrick's starting lineup against Qarabag in the Champions League may give outsiders insight into his considerations for the Sunday derby. Given the opposition's different style and Sesko still regaining match fitness, starting Sesko against Manchester City might make more sense.

Since Carrick took over Manchester United, the team has beaten several strong traditional Premier League sides, and Cunha has contributed goals in these victories. He scored in wins against Arsenal, Chelsea, and Liverpool, and previously assisted in a victory against Manchester City, which further suggests he should remain in front of Sesko this weekend.

Diterjemahkan oleh AI.

Situs web AF kini hadir! Lihat berita lengkap, komentar, detail pertandingan, dan statistik di komputer Anda. Kunjungi: www.allfootballapp.com