Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca explained how he managed to outwit Manchester United despite his side being reduced to 10 men.

The Red Devils hosted the Cityzens at Old Trafford in the first Manchester Derby of the season.

The home side made an encouraging start, and their hopes of taking all three points rose sharply when Phil Foden was sent off in the 23rd minute for an upkick on Bruno Fernandes.

Even so, United finished the match with nothing to show for it.

Although they went very close to scoring, Manchester United only struck the woodwork through Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo.

Instead, Manchester City took the lead through a controversial effort from Erling Haaland after Patrick Dorgu failed to clear properly. Most refereeing experts agree the goal should not have counted because Enzo Fernandez was in an offside position.

Even then, Manchester United still ought to have found a result after spending most of the match with an extra player on the pitch.

Speaking in his post-match press conference, Maresca outlined why United were unable to make their numerical advantage count.

The Italian coach pointed out that Michael Carrick’s side prefers transition-based football, so once Manchester City dropped deep after losing Foden, Manchester United were no longer able to find the spaces they usually like to exploit.

“I think the plan was 11 against 11. After the red card, it completely changed,” said the former Chelsea and Leicester boss.

“I think the game with ten players became more difficult for us, but also for them, because they are a team that loves transitions. They love space in behind.

“With ten players, we just dropped, waiting for them. So we didn’t concede any transitions. We didn’t concede any space in behind. So that’s why I said that probably the game became more difficult for us and for them.”

Maresca is almost certainly right in his reading of Manchester United, but the side’s struggle to create openings against a low block had already been exposed on the opening day of the season at Hull.

The Tigers took advantage of United’s poor defending from set-pieces to score twice, while Bruno Fernandes and company were unable to carve out a route to goal.

When facing deep and compact defences, a team must move the ball quickly and take advantage of any small opening, and this is an area where Carrick’s players have struggled badly, leading to two defeats in their first four Premier League matches of the season.

And with Maresca now openly highlighting his tactical success, the danger for Manchester United is that other teams may copy the same passive approach, handing the initiative to the Reds.

Therefore, improving the team’s ability to circulate the ball and function in tight spaces should now be a major priority for the coaching staff going forward.