Football
Rob Dawson, Correspondent 4y

Manchester United need new plan to beat City in Carabao Cup semis - Solskjaer

MANCHESTER -- Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is ready to devise a new plan to down Manchester City.

United won 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium earlier this month, but after being handed a two-legged Manchester derby in the Carabao Cup semifinal (first leg streaming live on ESPN+ on Jan. 6), Solskjaer said he won't use the same tactics again.

Pep Guardiola's side have lifted the trophy in each of the last two years and have not lost a League Cup tie since a 1-0 defeat at Old Trafford in October 2016.

"We really respect them and as I have said, in my opinion, they are the best team in England," said Solskjaer after United booked their place in the last four with a 3-0 win over Colchester United on Wednesday night.

"We've looked at that game [against City] and we were very pleased with the result. You won't beat City twice in a row or three times with the same tactics so we'll have to do something better. Pep [Guardiola] will have his team fired up.

"It's a cup we're in and we want to win every tournament we're in. We've got two games to get into the final."

United struggled to break Colchester down in the first half but sealed a comfortable victory in the second half thanks, in part, to Marcus Rashford.

The 22-year-old scored the first before setting up the third for Anthony Martial. He has now got 14 in all competitions this season, already making it his most prolific campaign as a professional.

"I was really pleased with him today," said Solskjaer. "He kept his body language, they kept kicking him, he got up and ran and made chances and movements.

"He was a leader by the way he acted. It was a good goal and he set up Anthony for his goal. So very pleased with Marcus."

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