Each line is generated from a finding that cleared its evidence bar; nothing here is a generic coaching point. The grey line says what it rests on; the button opens the sequences.
Copy the sides that escaped it: Everton got out 57% (long on 38%).
Average escape rate against them is 41%.
Let the ball go to Senne Lammens and press him when he receives.
Build-up exits made by Senne Lammens: the build-up carried on cleanly 44% of the time, vs 71% through anyone else (34 times).
Press their build-up in the left of their own third.
Giveaways there lead to a shot 15% of the time (20 giveaways).
Their most dangerous route: Bryan Mbeumo getting into the box with a carry from the centre. Double up on him there and show him away from goal.
12 times in the window, 75% end in a shot vs 49% for their other routes.
Avoid conceding corners; mark Harry Maguire first.
27% of their corners end in a shot; first contacts: Harry Maguire (6), Lisandro Martínez (2), Patrick Dorgu (2).
Where each player takes the ball in each phase of their possession, and who passes to whom. Event data has no off-ball positions, so this is the shape of their touches — the standard event-data proxy. A phase is defined by where the ball is, so the dots sit inside that phase's third (shaded): read the order and the width, not the depth of each line. Man Utd attack left to right.
attacking → · shaded = the build-up zone
443 build-up phases. Dot = the median spot of a player's touches in this phase; size = share of touches; lines = consecutive touches between two players.
attacking → · shaded = the progression zone
668 progression phases. Dot = the median spot of a player's touches in this phase; size = share of touches; lines = consecutive touches between two players.
attacking → · shaded = the final third zone
524 final third phases. Dot = the median spot of a player's touches in this phase; size = share of touches; lines = consecutive touches between two players.
Tackles, interceptions, recoveries, blocks, challenges and fouls in the opponent's final 40%.
190 in the window. The press on a build-up = the first two rows: 20 (2.5 a match).
| source | times | share | per match | shot | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| press: settled build-up taken off them | 19 | 10% | 2.4 | 5% | |
| press: their restart forced into an error before they settled | 1 | 1% | 0.1 | 0% | |
| counter-press: won straight back after losing it | 14 | 7% | 1.8 | 21% | |
| second ball: the opponent touched it but never controlled it | 156 | 82% | 19.5 | 37% | |
| ↳ rebound after their own shot (saved or blocked) | 27 | 14% | 3.4 | 41% | |
| ↳ their cross / ball into the box, cleared | 65 | 34% | 8.1 | 45% | |
| ↳ their long ball, only headed or touched away | 14 | 7% | 1.8 | 21% | |
| ↳ after their own throw-in / set piece | 12 | 6% | 1.5 | 17% | |
| ↳ loose ball in their combination play (pass blocked or tackled) | 38 | 20% | 4.8 | 34% |
| opponent was | share | league | rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| dribbling or a loose touch | 29% | 31% | 12 / 20 | |
| passing forward | 25% | 25% | 10 / 20 | |
| going long | 18% | 7% | 1 / 20 | |
| passing to a full-back | 14% | 13% | 9 / 20 | |
| passing back | 7% | 3% | 2 / 20 | |
| passing sideways | 4% | 6% | 15 / 20 | |
| taking a throw-in | 4% | 3% | 6 / 20 | |
| passing to the keeper | 0% | 0% | 9 / 20 | |
| a loose ball | 0% | 0% | 1 / 20 |
The opponents who went long most (43% of build-ups) got out 37% of the time; those who mostly played short (26% long) got out 42%. That is a lean, not proven at 20 matches (p=0.6196).
Best escapes: Everton 57%; Leeds 50%; Ipswich 45%. One dot per match; hover for the opponent.
Most often started by Harry Maguire (13), Bruno Fernandes (12), Diogo Dalot (11), Kobbie Mainoo (8).
| lost in | losses | won back within 5s | led to a shot |
|---|---|---|---|
| own third | 48 | 31% | 12% |
| midfield | 183 | 34% | 2% |
| final third | 322 | 24% | 0% |
15.4 opponent attacks per match after winning the ball in open play that broke forward fast or reached the final third. Shading and % = share of the xG they produced, by the channel they used. Man Utd's goal is on the left. Central attacks carry more xG for every team, so compare with Man Utd's own attacking xG in the same kind of channel (centre, or the average flank): right 47% conceded vs 39% own, left 32% conceded vs 39% own, centre 22% conceded vs 22% own.
Every real turnover, named by the situation it came from. "Fast" = the side with the ball reached the final third within 10 seconds. Only real turnovers appear here: for everything the press wins high, including restarts it forced into an error, see "Every ball won in the opponent’s third" in the press section.
| type | times | share | fast | shot | xG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won high from a settled build-up (press) | 19 | 3%lg 5% | 42% | 11%lg 9% | 0.1 | |
| Won after their long possession (10+ passes) | 46 | 8%lg 9% | 13% | 4%lg 3% | 0.3 | |
| Won straight back after losing it (counter-press) | 90 | 16%lg 13% | 42% | 9%lg 7% | 0.5 | |
| Won by stopping their counter | 19 | 3%lg 4% | 5% | 0%lg 0% | 0.0 | |
| Won in midfield | 151 | 27%lg 25% | 39% | 11%lg 6% | 0.9 | |
| Won deep in own third | 222 | 39%lg 38% | 14% | 4%lg 3% | 0.8 | |
| Won from their set piece | 21 | 4%lg 5% | 24% | 0%lg 3% | 0.0 |
| type | times | share | opponent fast | shot against | xG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lost in own build-up under pressure | 33 | 5%lg 4% | 27% | 9%lg 13% | 0.3 | |
| Lost after own long possession (10+ passes) | 71 | 11%lg 9% | 13% | 3%lg 4% | 0.1 | |
| Lost straight after winning it | 72 | 11%lg 13% | 42% | 6%lg 8% | 0.2 | |
| Lost during own counter | 28 | 4%lg 4% | 4% | 0%lg 0% | 0.0 | |
| Lost in midfield | 153 | 24%lg 25% | 24% | 7%lg 6% | 1.1 | |
| Lost in the final third (attack broke down) | 246 | 39%lg 39% | 12% | 4%lg 3% | 1.4 | |
| Lost from own set piece | 35 | 5%lg 5% | 6% | 3%lg 2% | 0.1 |
Every controlled possession is typed by how it was played, and every real turnover (a possession that was established and then lost) by what the losing side was doing, how it lost the ball and what the winner did next. "Settled" = sustained or worked possessions; "unsettled" = short, second-ball, counter and direct possessions.
| type | times | share | ended in a shot | avg passes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| sustained circulation (10+ passes) | 98 | 12%lg 11% | 15%lg 16% | 14.3 | |
| worked possession (4-9 passes) | 242 | 30%lg 26% | 12%lg 10% | 5.7 | |
| direct attack | 84 | 10%lg 14% | 1%lg 2% | 1.6 | |
| short possession (0-3 passes) | 153 | 19%lg 22% | 5% | 1.5 |
| the side losing it was in… | times | fast attack | secured | lost straight back | can’t keep it | shot | xG | how it was lost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| sustained circulation (10+ passes) | 72 | 12% | 17% | 1% | 57% | 4% | 0.2 | pass cut out 50, long ball lost 10 | |
| worked possession (4-9 passes) | 175 | 14% | 17% | 10% | 47% | 4% | 1.2 | pass cut out 96, long ball lost 36 | |
| direct attack | 72 | 31% | 15% | 12% | 29% | 8% | 0.7 | long ball lost 39, pass cut out 19 | |
| short possession (0-3 passes) | 128 | 28% | 8% | 6% | 53% | 9% | 0.8 | pass cut out 59, long ball lost 21 | |
| second-ball possession | 118 | 19% | 17% | 11% | 48% | 3% | 0.3 | pass cut out 73, long ball lost 19 | |
| counter / fast transition | 38 | 5% | 26% | 13% | 42% | 0% | 0.0 | pass cut out 28, bad touch 5 | |
| set piece | 35 | 6% | 9% | 14% | 60% | 3% | 0.1 | pass cut out 22, bad touch 6 |
| mechanism | times | share | led to a shot against | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| pass cut out | 347 | 54%lg 51% | 3% | |
| long ball lost | 130 | 20%lg 24% | 8% | |
| bad touch | 84 | 13%lg 14% | 6% | |
| failed dribble | 39 | 6%lg 6% | 5% | |
| tackled / dispossessed | 33 | 5%lg 6% | 12% |
| the opponent was in… | times | fast attack | secured | lost straight back | can’t keep it | shot | xG | how it was lost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| sustained circulation (10+ passes) | 48 | 15% | 12% | 17% | 46% | 4% | 0.3 | pass cut out 19, long ball lost 16 | |
| worked possession (4-9 passes) | 142 | 22% | 18% | 9% | 44% | 6% | 0.6 | pass cut out 75, long ball lost 42 | |
| direct attack | 88 | 32% | 14% | 12% | 36% | 9% | 0.5 | long ball lost 47, pass cut out 22 | |
| short possession (0-3 passes) | 146 | 40% | 5% | 3% | 43% | 10% | 0.8 | pass cut out 62, long ball lost 34 | |
| second-ball possession | 94 | 14% | 15% | 12% | 52% | 5% | 0.5 | pass cut out 47, long ball lost 18 | |
| counter / fast transition | 29 | 14% | 21% | 10% | 48% | 0% | 0.0 | pass cut out 19, bad touch 4 | |
| set piece | 21 | 24% | 14% | 5% | 48% | 0% | 0.0 | pass cut out 13, bad touch 4 |
Fast attack = their final third or box reached within 10s. Secured = kept 10s+ or 4+ passes. Lost straight back = controlled, then lost within 5s. Can’t keep it = won the ball but never got it under control (cleared it, headed it away, blocked it or lost it at once).
Each phase split into the situations it is made of, every row with its league median and clips. Shots are their own category: a possession that ends in a shot has finished, it has not lost the ball.
| type | times | share | got out | reached the box | lost in build-up | shot | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| from the keeper / goal kick, played out short | 32 | 16%lg 17% | 81% | 38% | 12% | 9% | |
| from the keeper / goal kick, went long (bypass) | 19 | 9%lg 13% | 63% | 0% | 37% | 0% | |
| from the keeper / goal kick, stuck / recycled | 13 | 6% | 0% | 23% | 46% | 8% | |
| from the back line, played out short | 23 | 11%lg 8% | 74% | 35% | 26% | 9% | |
| from the back line, went long (bypass) | 10 | 5%lg 5% | 20% | 20% | 80% | 0% | |
| from the back line, stuck / recycled | 12 | 6% | 0% | 17% | 42% | 8% | |
| from a throw-in, played out short | 9 | 4%lg 4% | 78% | 44% | 0% | 0% | |
| from a throw-in, went long (bypass) | 6 | 3%lg 3% | 17% | 0% | 67% | 0% | |
| from a throw-in, stuck / recycled | 6 | 3% | 0% | 0% | 67% | 0% | |
| straight after winning it, played out short | 31 | 15%lg 16% | 81% | 19% | 16% | 6% | |
| straight after winning it, went long (bypass) | 20 | 10%lg 11% | 35% | 20% | 65% | 10% | |
| straight after winning it, stuck / recycled | 22 | 11% | 0% | 5% | 27% | 0% |
| outcome | times | share | opponent shot | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| won it high | 17 | 8%lg 10% | 0% | |
| forced long, then won it back | 66 | 30%lg 26% | 0% | |
| forced long, they kept it | 12 | 5%lg 5% | 8% | |
| they played through short | 66 | 30%lg 30% | 20% | |
| kept them stuck (recycled back) | 61 | 27%lg 24% | 3% |
Won high = the ball won in the opponent's own third. Forced long = the opponent left its third with a long ball (then either lost it in that possession, or kept it).
| created by | shots | share of open play | xG | xG per shot | goals | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| cross | 16 | 15%lg 12% | 1.8 | 0.12lg 0.11 | 2 | |
| cutback | 10 | 9%lg 9% | 0.9 | 0.09lg 0.12 | 0 | |
| through ball | 5 | 5%lg 3% | 0.9 | 0.17lg 0.17 | 2 | |
| short pass / combination | 55 | 50%lg 53% | 2.9 | 0.05lg 0.08 | 3 | |
| long ball | 6 | 5%lg 4% | 0.3 | 0.06lg 0.08 | 0 | |
| individual (dribble / self-made) | 8 | 7%lg 9% | 0.6 | 0.07lg 0.08 | 0 | |
| rebound / second ball | 10 | 9%lg 9% | 2.1 | 0.21lg 0.13 | 1 | |
| corner (set piece) | 31 | – | 1.7 | 0.06 | 0 | |
| free kick (indirect) (set piece) | 4 | – | 0.3 | 0.07 | 0 | |
| direct free kick (set piece) | 3 | – | 0.1 | 0.02 | 0 | |
| throw-in (set piece) | 6 | – | 0.3 | 0.05 | 0 | |
| penalty (set piece) | 1 | – | 0.8 | 0.79 | 1 |
| created by | shots | share | xG | xG per shot | goals | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| cross | 9 | 16%lg 11% | 1.1 | 0.13 | 1 | |
| cutback | 4 | 7%lg 9% | 0.7 | 0.18 | 2 | |
| through ball | 4 | 7%lg 3% | 0.9 | 0.24 | 0 | |
| short pass / combination | 30 | 53%lg 54% | 2.1 | 0.07 | 2 | |
| long ball | 2 | 4%lg 4% | 0.1 | 0.04 | 1 | |
| individual (dribble / self-made) | 6 | 11%lg 10% | 1.0 | 0.17 | 2 | |
| rebound / second ball | 2 | 4%lg 10% | 0.1 | 0.05 | 0 | |
| corner (set piece) | 13 | – | 1.3 | 0.10 | 2 | |
| free kick (indirect) (set piece) | 9 | – | 0.7 | 0.08 | 2 | |
| throw-in (set piece) | 8 | – | 0.7 | 0.09 | 0 |
| ending | shots | share | |
|---|---|---|---|
| goal | 8 | 5%lg 9% | |
| keeper held it | 14 | 9%lg 9% | |
| keeper parried it | 14 | 9%lg 12% | |
| blocked | 60 | 39%lg 32% | |
| off target | 53 | 34%lg 39% | |
| hit the woodwork | 5 | 3% |
Penalties excluded. A "save" by an outfield player is a block.
After their keeper held a shot (7), median release 12s; league share turned into a fast attack 14%:
| their keeper held it, then… | times | share | |
|---|---|---|---|
| keeper released fast -> fast attack | 0 | 0% | |
| keeper released quickly, no fast attack | 1 | 14% | |
| keeper slowed the game | 6 | 86% |
After their own shot was held by the opponent keeper (14); league share broken against fast 17%:
| the opponent keeper held it, then… | times | share | |
|---|---|---|---|
| keeper released fast -> fast attack | 1 | 7% | |
| keeper released quickly, no fast attack | 1 | 7% | |
| keeper slowed the game | 12 | 86% |
Fast = the keeper's side reached its final third within 15s of the save. Quick = first pass within 6s.
The other half of each phase above. Their own phases break down when they lose the ball (real turnovers only); their press and block break down when the opponent gets through. Each card: how often, how, where, who is involved, and what it costs them.
145 balls lost in 443 build-up phases (33%)
giveaways per 10 build-up phases: 3.0/10 · league 2.7/10
What it costs: 34% turned into a fast attack · 44% the opponent can’t keep · 8% led to a shot · 1.2 xG
211 balls lost in 668 middle-third phases (32%)
giveaways per 10 middle-third phases: 2.8/10 · league 2.7/10
What it costs: 22% turned into a fast attack · 34% the opponent can’t keep · 6% led to a shot · 1.0 xG
260 balls lost in 524 final-third phases (50%)
deliveries into the box that fail to arrive: 58% · league 60%
What it costs: 7% turned into a fast attack · 62% the opponent can’t keep · 2% led to a shot · 0.9 xG
76 deliveries into the box did not arrive
38 of 55 counter-attacks lost (69%)
attacking transitions that produce a shot: 21% · league 18%
What it costs: 5% turned into a fast attack · 42% the opponent can’t keep · 0% led to a shot · 0.0 xG
55 counters: 14 ended in a shot, 38 were lost, 3 slowed down or went out
82 of 201 opponent build-ups got out (41%)
opponent build-ups that get out cleanly: 41% · league 46%
What it costs: 29% reached the final third · 18% led to a shot · 1.7 xG
Sides are their own: "down the left" = down their left.
108 box entries in 392 opponent final-third phases (28%)
opponent final-third phases that create: 48% · league 51%
What it costs: 46% led to a shot · 6.6 xG
Sides are their own.
35 set pieces lost in open play
What it costs: 6% turned into a fast attack · 60% the opponent can’t keep · 3% led to a shot · 0.1 xG
Their corners and free kicks that were lost in open play, and what the opponent did next.
Takers: Bruno Fernandes (27), Bryan Mbeumo (12), Mason Mount (5)
First contact in the box: Harry Maguire (6), Lisandro Martínez (2), Patrick Dorgu (2), Ayden Heaven (1), Luke Shaw (1)
What each player does in the phases, counted over the window. Only lines that clear a minimum count are shown.
The comparison behind the report: each behaviour as a rate per opportunity, ranked among the 20 Premier League clubs' full seasons, with how many of the 8 matches sat on the same side of the league median. "Style" is never a verdict.
| behaviour | Man Utd | league median | rank | matches | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| style | forward drop link per 100 build up phases | 4.5/100 | 2.1/100 | 1 / 20 | 6/8 | |
| style | overlap per 100 progression phases | 3.6/100 | 2.1/100 | 1 / 20 | 5/8 | |
| style | one two wall pass per 100 progression phases | 3.1/100 | 1.9/100 | 1 / 20 | 5/8 | |
| weakness | xG per shot from short passes / combinations | 0.05 xG | 0.08 xG | 20 / 20 | 8/8 | |
| style | third man combination per 100 final third phases | 25.8/100 | 16.5/100 | 2 / 20 | 7/8 | |
| style | final-third entries through the centre | 19% | 12% | 1 / 20 | 6/8 | |
| style | triangle per 100 progression phases | 6.0/100 | 3.3/100 | 2 / 20 | 7/8 | |
| strength | middle-third phases that progressed into the final third | 76% | 68% | 2 / 20 | 6/8 | |
| style | controlled possessions that are worked possessions (4-9 passes) | 30% | 26% | 1 / 20 | 6/8 | |
| style | early cross per 100 final third phases | 9.9/100 | 7.3/100 | 2 / 20 | 6/8 | |
| strength | phases with nobody in control (contested) | 17% | 22% | 19 / 20 | 5/8 | |
| style | cutback per 100 final third phases | 3.8/100 | 2.5/100 | 1 / 20 | 6/8 | |
| strength | balls won in midfield that produced a shot | 11% | 6% | 1 / 20 | 6/8 | |
| style | layoff per 100 progression phases | 1.2/100 | 0.6/100 | 2 / 20 | 7/8 | |
| style | third man combination per 100 progression phases | 22.0/100 | 17.6/100 | 2 / 20 | 7/8 | |
| style | turnovers won straight back (counter-press) | 16% | 13% | 2 / 20 | 6/8 | |
| strength | giveaways that led to an opponent shot within 15s | 2% | 3% | 19 / 20 | 7/8 | |
| style | goalkeeper-started build-ups he ends himself with a long ball | 33% | 46% | 19 / 20 | 7/8 |
| phase | route | times | shot | their average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Final third | W gets it into the box with a carry from the centre | 12 | 75% | 49% |
| split | behaviour | a | b | p | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| against the more aggressive pressers vs the deeper / passive sides | high-press regains | 4.5/match | 2.5/match | 0.0047 | |
| against the more aggressive pressers vs the deeper / passive sides | build-up exits with a long ball | 47% | 25% | 0.0098 | |
| against the more aggressive pressers vs the deeper / passive sides | build-up exits played by the goalkeeper | 35% | 17% | 0.0173 | |
| when trailing vs when level | build-up exits by carrying it out | 26% | 8% | 0.0162 | |
| when trailing vs when level | build-ups that carried on into the next third under control | 63% | 45% | 0.0418 | |
| second half vs first half | middle-third phases that progressed into the final third | 83% | 69% | 0.0083 | |
| second half vs first half | giveaways regained within 5s (counter-press) | 33% | 23% | 0.0115 |
| date | opponent | result | npxG | opponent press | what happened |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-22 | at Hull City | L 0-2 | 1.8–1.0 | sat deep / passive | Lost 0-2 despite the better chances (1.79 v 1.03 xG) -- a finishing / goalkeeping defeat more than a tactical one. Hull City defended deep and let them have the ball (strict PPDA 26.9, league median 14.4) and went long on 69% of their own build-ups. Biggest departure from their norm: opponent build-ups that got out cleanly 20%, far below their usual 39%. |
| 2026-08-30 | vs Ipswich | W 5-2 | 3.7–0.9 | mid-intensity press | Won 5-2, chances 3.70 v 0.93 xG. Ipswich pressed at roughly league-average intensity (strict PPDA 16.7, league median 14.4) and went long on 50% of their own build-ups. Biggest departure from their norm: build-up exits down the right 17%, far below their usual 34%. |
| 2026-09-06 | at Everton | D 2-2 | 0.7–1.1 | mid-intensity press | Drew 2-2 (0.73 v 1.13 xG). Everton pressed at roughly league-average intensity (strict PPDA 16.4, league median 14.4). Biggest departure from their norm: counter-attacks 2.0/match, far below their usual 6.9/match. |
| 2026-09-13 | vs Man City | L 0-1 | 0.9–0.7 | mid-intensity press | Lost 0-1 and the chances agreed (0.86 v 0.68 xG). Man City pressed at roughly league-average intensity (strict PPDA 14.9, league median 14.4). Biggest departure from their norm: non-penalty xG conceded 0.68 xG, far below their usual 1.12 xG. |
| 2026-09-20 | at Fulham | D 1-1 | 1.9–1.6 | sat deep / passive | Drew 1-1 (1.89 v 1.57 xG). Fulham defended deep and let them have the ball (strict PPDA 19.2, league median 14.4). Biggest departure from their norm: opponent final-third phases that created 59%, far above their usual 47%. |
| 2026-10-10 | vs Tottenham | D 1-1 | 0.8–1.3 | pressed aggressively | Drew 1-1 (0.81 v 1.31 xG). Tottenham pressed harder than a typical Premier League side does (strict PPDA 11.1, league median 14.4). Biggest departure from their norm: final-third entries by carrying it in 39%, far above their usual 20%. |
| 2026-10-18 | at Leeds | D 1-1 | 0.9–1.2 | pressed aggressively | Drew 1-1 (0.90 v 1.23 xG). Leeds pressed harder than a typical Premier League side does (strict PPDA 9.8, league median 14.4). Biggest departure from their norm: chance-creation phases that produced a shot 57%, far above their usual 39%. |
| 2026-10-25 | vs Bournemouth | L 0-3 | 1.3–1.1 | pressed aggressively | Lost 0-3 and the chances agreed (1.34 v 1.07 xG). Bournemouth pressed harder than a typical Premier League side does (strict PPDA 11.4, league median 14.4) and went long on 55% of their own build-ups. Biggest departure from their norm: build-up exits down the right 50%, far above their usual 34%. |