Man City vs Man United: Why Red Devils must not park the bus against attacking Citizens

Manchester City vs Manchester United – the awesome clash of numbers

This fixture has much at stake for the two teams involved. It is an opportunity for the Citizens to finally get back to the summit of the English Premier League table. The match also presents a glorious chance for the Red Devils to cruise into comfort zone ahead of Matchday 37 and Matchday 38.

Remarkably, Manchester City and Manchester United share equal statistics in various areas. The Citizens and the Red Devils both gather a possession time average of 57 per cent. These two local rivals also have a passing accuracy rate of 85 per cent. Antonio Valencia and David Silva both have 13 assists in their name.

The league table currently puts Manchester United on top with 83 points and (+54) goal difference. Over 35 matches, their W-D-L record reads 26-5-4. Manchester City are their closest rivals with a 25-5-5 record, 80 points and a (+60) goal difference. Simple calculations clarify the following:

Manchester City can only contemplate victory tonight. Clinching maximum points would put them level at the top with Manchester United. City would eventually have the edge on goal difference ahead of their final two fixtures away to Newcastle United and at home to Queens Park Rangers.

Manchester United go into Monday’s battle at the Etihad Stadium with less pressure in terms of obligations concerning the result. A win would put them 6 points clear at the top, virtually ending Manchester City’s contest for the Premier League trophy.

Victory is not the Red Devils’ only option tonight.  A draw would suit them just fine although the race for the title will go to the final two games. A 4-point gap can evaporate in 180 minutes of league football but the Citizens would need Swansea City and Sunderland to take points away from Manchester United if Monday's Manchester derby ends in a draw.

In such a case, an 86-point tally (from drawing against City, Swansea and Sunderland) would not crown the Red Devils champions if Manchester City beat Newcastle United and Queens Park Rangers to eventually hit 87 points at the end of Matchday 38.

However, in Swansea and Sunderland, Manchester United face very little threat. If the Red Devils secure at least a draw at the Etihad Stadium but do not wrap up the English Premier League title, they would only have themselves to blame.

Calculations come down to the fact that while Manchester City vs Manchester United is a must-win battle for the Citizens, Ferguson and his men can afford two different positive results.

The thing to avoid at all cost for the Red Devils is a loss. As explained before, defeat would demote Manchester United from first to second in the standings, leaving them to hope City commit a very late mistake at the end of the road.

If defeat is not an option, should Manchester United consider using negative tactics to grab at least a point away to Manchester City?

‘Parking the bus’ and what statistics tell

This is a question to observe, especially since the Red Devils lost 6-1 to the Citizens at Old Trafford earlier in the campaign. Another fact to remark is that Manchester City have netted 12 goals in their last 3 English Premier League fixtures while Manchester United’s defenders have a point to prove after conceding 4 goals against Everton last weekend.

The “park the bus” strategy is widely criticized in world football. When teams use it, instead of provoking admiration for exhibiting the art of defending, they provoke angry reactions from fans who claim that “this is not football”. If Manchester United apply negative tactics against Manchester City, the following interrogations will surely make rounds in the media:

Are Manchester United afraid of their closest rivals? Do the Red Devils really ‘deserve’ to win the title looking at the outcome of the league season’s two Manchester derbies?

“Man City are very dangerous, especially attacking. Silva and Tevez have clicked and that makes them create many dangerous chances. We have to stop those two if we don’t want to suffer on Monday.” Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea admitted in a pre-match interview with Goal.com.

David Silva, ex-Red Devil star Carlos Tevez, Sergio Aguero and the list of Manchester City's super attacking players goes on but Manchester United will not surrender to their local rivals’ threat on the offensive. De Gea could not explain his team’s psychological attitude any better when he said:

“We won't park the bus or try to get a point. We don't know how to do it and that would mean giving them the advantage on the match.”