It was an odd game last night. Both teams started really well, then both teams went off the boil after about half an hour and both teams ended the first half really sloppily. In the second half though City came out with a renewed intensity while we carried on being sloppy. For once I think the old fashioned half time team talk is what made the difference. City bucked up their ideas and we didn't. This was nothing like the last time City came to Old Trafford in the league cup though, where they put us through the wringer. Overall it was a tight game and its not a surprise that it took a set piece to break the deadlock.
I think it highlighted how much we depend on Bruno, if that wasn't already obvious. He had a poor game - forgivable, I cant recall the last time he did - but the consequence is that the entire attack failed to function. There's nothing wrong with tactically building your team around a player, but I think the worry at the moment is that Fernandes is also providing all the motivation and attitude. Martial & Rashford looked like passengers waiting for something to happen. AWB and Shaw looked like they were waiting to be told when to break forward. Without Bruno dictating things, nothing clicked.
Easy in hindsight, but I wish Ole had been bolder with substitutions once the first goal went in. We were set up to counter attack and that was no longer an option. We should have gambled sooner, especially as their attackers didn't look like scoring from open play.
In the end though, irritating as a City win is, I don't read too much into the game. It was a tight game where they did the right things in key moments and we didn't. I didn't see some huge gap between the teams. Let just hope the delayed final gives them a congestion headache in the run in and move on.