There was an English FA Youth Cup final, and the final result was that Manchester City (U18) defeated Manchester United (U18) with a score of 2 to 1.
After watching the entire game, my first impression was that high school students were competing against junior high school students. The junior high school students were referring to Manchester United's U18. Whether it was tactical literacy or physical fitness, Manchester United's U18 was at a lower level than Manchester City's U18.
A large part of the reason why Manchester United U18 lost was that their physical confrontation was much worse than that of Manchester City players. Of course, several Manchester United players skipped the level to participate in the U18 game. Especially in the second half, his physical fitness could not keep up with the rhythm of the game, which became a direct factor in the loss.
Let me talk about it, there are several obvious problems. First, there is a situation of leapfrog kicking. Second, there is no advantage in speed. Third, it is almost difficult to kick out during counterattack. Fourth, secondly, in the side breakthrough link, in the second half, almost everyone works alone, and there is little coordination. This is also related to the lack of physical fitness.
Let’s talk about some key players:
First of all, it was Obi Martin who said it. What is certain is that such a game happened. When he was in such a situation without a physical advantage, the shots he made were really eye-catching. Moreover, when it comes to ball control, ball protection and related skills as a fulcrum, there is still room for improvement. It has been such a long time since he came to Manchester United, but it feels like he has not made any obvious progress. And the most critical point is that his golf IQ is not enough. He can only play a role in some games where he has an advantage in physical confrontation. If this trend continues, I am not optimistic about him gaining a foothold in the Premier League.
Secondly, JJ Gabriel had several cooperation and breakthroughs in the first half, and his performance was quite spiritual. However, in terms of physical confrontation, there was a huge gap. Due to speed, in the second half, there were two and a half one-on-one opportunities (there was only one person on the side to defend, and if he broke through, it would be a one-on-one goal). However, JJ did not have the guts to break through. This needs to be tempered. After all, they are all involved in kicking football at a higher level and cannot be overly motivated.
Third, Kukongji was the goal scorer in Manchester United's game. Whether on the offensive end or the defensive end, he was one of the few players who was not at a disadvantage when confronting Manchester City players. Unfortunately, he suffered cramps in the second half and left the game early. Kukunji has also been selected for the first team this season and is a player worth cultivating.
Fourthly, on the day of the 8th, I forgot what the name was, a long-distance pass was outstanding, with the characteristics of Bruno Fernandez's characteristics when passing the ball.
In addition, the goalkeeper, No. 7, performed well, but the other players were average.
Uh-huh, by the way, two or three of the U18 players from Manchester City on the other side will have the possibility to serve as substitute players for the first team next season. They are incredible. Their physical condition and tactical awareness are basically the same as those of the first team.