Enzo Maresca made the call that decided the Manchester derby. With his side down to ten men and the game deadlocked at half-time, the Manchester City manager turned to Iliman Ndiaye.
A Bold Change at the Break
Manchester City went in at the interval level at nil-all with Manchester United, having been reduced to ten men when Phil Foden was sent off for kicking out at United captain Bruno Fernandes. The visitors would play the entire second half a man short.
Maresca, though, believed his side could still take all three points from Old Trafford. He replaced Rayan Cherki with Ndiaye to begin the second period — an attacking change that, on the surface, looked brave. In practice, it was something closer to common sense.
Rayan Cherki is a top player, but [in the second-half with 10 men] we needed something different. We needed a player that can win fouls, counter-attack, and the idea with Ili [Ndiaye] on one side, Antoine [Semenyo] on the other, and Erling [Haaland], when we have chance to attack, we need to attack! We cannot just defend!
Cherki's gifts in possession are not in question. Out of possession, though, his work was not suited to what confronted City after the interval, and the numbers support the switch: Ndiaye won back possession nine times in the second half alone.
The Goal That Settled It
Ndiaye's most telling contribution came in the final third. He won the ball back from United in a dangerous position, fed Antoine Semenyo, who picked out Josko Gvardiol to supply the cross. Erling Haaland poked home at the back post. 1-0.
The Senegalese international finished the derby with the most duels won (9), the most fouls won (5), and a share of the most successful take-ons (3) — all from just 45 minutes. Those numbers would be respectable across a full match.
It is not the first time a manager has used a half-time change to wrestle control of a derby, but few have done so with such direct consequences. The win will be remembered for Haaland's finish. The reason it happened is Ndiaye.