The Athletic FC Podcast The Preview: Man City vs Man United
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Sep 12, 2025 Megan Feringa, a football journalist, and Carl Anka, Manchester United reporter for The Athletic, dive deep into the upcoming Manchester derby. They discuss the goalkeeping drama at United with the departure of Onana and the arrival of Senny Lamans. The duo analyses each team's form, injury challenges, and tactical strategies leading up to this crucial match. They also share lighthearted rivalry predictions and compare the emotional turmoil of managerial changes in Nottingham Forest to a captivating soap opera!
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Onana's Confidence And System Mismatch
- André Onana's decline at United stemmed from lost confidence and a changing team dynamic that removed his strengths.
- Carl Anka argues United shifted him from an aggressive, feet-first keeper to one forced into basic shot-stopping, which he struggled to do reliably.
New Keeper Debate For United
- United replaced Onana with Sene Lamans, a statistical standout from Belgium whose data initially raised scepticism.
- Carl Anka feels Lamans looks promising but United may prefer Altay Bayındır on Sunday for experience and long-passing ability.
Expect Pragmatic Keeper Choices
- Pep Guardiola has precedent for debuting experienced keepers in big matches, so expect a pragmatic choice from City.
- Ruben Amorim is less likely to gamble on an untested keeper early, so avoid assuming both sides will start debutants.