Man Utd ratings: Fernandes can’t arrive quick enough after anonymous Lingard display but De Gea was superb against City
MANCHESTER CITY reached a third consecutive Carabao Cup Final after surviving a scare against neighbours United.
Trailing 3-1 from the first leg at Old Trafford, the Red Devils triumphed 1-0 in the return at the Etihad but failed to find a second to take it to penalties.
City now meet Aston Villa in the capital on March 1 while United look elsewhere in search of silverware.
Gary Stonehouse watched all of the action in Manchester and gives his rating for each of United’s players below:
De Gea - 8
Made a big early save to deny Sergio Aguero with a header and instantly followed that up by denying Riyad Mahrez to weather the early City storm.
Continued to be deny the holders and win his battle with Argentinian all night and his performance more than most deserved to end with a trip to Wembley.
He has received plenty of criticism over recent years, but the Spaniard showed tonight why he is still among the best in the world.
Wan-Bissaka - 6
The usually attack-minded full-back had limited opportunities to do that tonight as he battled to keep Raheem Sterling and Kevin De Bruyne underwraps.
Along with the rest of the back five he demonstrated his defensive abilities well before he naturally beginning to look leggy in the final twenty minutes.
Maguire - 6
Survived a penalty scare against Raheem Sterling early on following a clumsy fall inside the area but then showed great pace to make a superb sliding tackle to deny the same man.
Wasted a great chance to get United off to a flyer in the second period by heading over from Fred’s free-kick just yards out before then almost gifting David Silva a goal only for Lindelof to save him.
Lindelof - 7
Was under-pressure along with the rest of the backline for long spells but defended resolutely.
Let himself down seconds before the break with a short backpass that Aguero latched on to, but he had De Gea to thank for sparing his blushes as the stopper raced clear to deny the striker again.
And he ended up fully redeeming himself by denying Rodri with a vital challenge after Maguire had gifted City possession just 12 yards out.
Williams - 6
Penned back for long spells but did manage to get forward once or twice despite being under cosh in the first half.
Defended well against some of the planet’s best forwards and looks set to continue in Solskjaer’s starting XI for some time to come.
Shaw - 6
Allowed Aguero to pull away from him early doors when the Argentinian came close with a header but was steady away for the rest of the contest.
Did his best to support Williams down the flank but had little opportunity to cause a real threat before he was taken off late on.
Fred - 7
The Brazilian continues to get better after his poor start to life at United.
Harried and tussled throughout alongside Matic in front of the back five until his team-mate left him high and dry by heading for an early bath.
Matic - 6
Not known for his goalscoring exploits, he showed his lethalness to volley home the opener and give his side hope.
He was walking a tightrope after his early booking in the second period, but despite getting a warning from the ref after another foul, he let himself down by bundling Gundogan on 76 minutes.
The official had no option but to issue him with a second caution, leaving his team-mates up against it for the final quarter of an hour as he went from hero to zero.
Lingard - 3
Anonymous after being deployed in the No10 role and that theme continued until he was replaced by Pereira on 65 minutes.
Perhaps the most-relieved man in the ground when Sterling’s strike was ruled out for offside towards the end of the first half after he lost possession again when failing to link-up midfield and attack.
Bruno Fernandes can't arrive quick enough for United fans after this performance.
Martial - 5
Starved of possession throughout but he was wasteful with the ball when he did get it.
Waited until the 55th minute for his first strike, a tame long-ranger, and then blazed over from the corner of the box shortly afterwards. Not his type of game tonight and you would hardly know he had played.
Greenwood - 4
Preferred to James in attack but struggled to be as tight in control or play as he has shown previously.
Taken off at half time due to a reported knock to end a quiet night for the forward.
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Subs
James - 5
Replaced Greenwood at the break and immediately caused problems with his pace by winning the free-kick that led to Maguire’s big chance.
But he produced a poor cross in the final seconds after his skipper had been thrown up top from centre half.
Pereira – 4
Replaced Lingard but failed to make an impact as his side searched for another goal to take it to penalties.
Mata – 4
On for the final ten minutes but for some unknown reason he was not even in the running to take a free-kick 25 yards out late on. Pointless him being there.