Man United 0-0 Man City: United and City cancel each other out in drab derby stalemate
Both clubs cancel each other out in drab Manchester derby at Old Trafford which sees Manchester City miss out on a place in the Premier League top four.
Derby day disappointed as both Manchester sides failed to break the deadlock in a lifeless 0-0 draw.
Before kick-off fans around the country would have most likely predicted a thrilling fixture with goals being scored at both ends, and at the very least, a derby feel to the game, especially with Manchester City legend Kevin de Bruyne playing in his last ever Manchester derby.
Unfortunately, this was not the case today at Old Trafford.
It was a game with an unusual lack of passion and intensity as both sides seemed to fear losing rather than playing for the full three points.
United took the back foot in the game looking to exploit City on the counterattack which resulted in a few good opportunities being created by the Reds.
However, a lack of quality in and around the box was glaringly obvious today, leaving the home side without any form of a real goal threat.
A common occurrence once again for United was the performance from their captain, Bruno Fernandes, once again controlling and pulling the strings for his team.
Everything United created today went through the Portuguese international.
Here is what the Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim had to say following today's draw.
Manchester United and Manchester City played out a drab 0-0 draw in Kevin de Bruyne’s final derby after announcing he will leave the club at the end of the season.
It was the Belgian midfielder’s ultimate Manchester derby and final start in the fixture too, but his side couldn’t muster the lethality that they’ve so often missed this season as both halves ended goalless.
Omar Marmoush came the closest twice for Pep Guardiola’s side, but was denied by Andre Onana on both occasions – once from a curling free-kick.
And, at the other end, United had the better chances but also couldn’t break the deadlock. Joshua Zirkzee’s first shot of the game was pushed wide by Ederson before Mason Mount was denied too.
Story of the Match FT
A sunny day in Manchester welcomed the excitement of yet another derby but it was highly disappointing due to a lack of high-quality football.
De Bruyne took part in his final edition of this head-to-head after announcing he will leave City but, dispiritingly, some of the attention remained on the protests held against the owners of both clubs from ticket price increases.
Guardiola’s side have scored just five goals in their last five league matches and there was a sense of another drab showing as time leaked into the final 20 minutes.
Moments earlier, Marmoush had a thunderous volley on goal denied by Onana, before the shape of the game began to boil over.
United’s best chance of the game came just six minutes after Zirkzee and Mount were introduced and it was Dorgu down the left who provided the opportunity with a low cross into the area.
Zirkzee, from 12 yards out, hit first-time with his left foot before Ederson pushed it away from danger – Mount then replied with a powerful rebound shot, but Rico Lewis blocked timely.
Earlier on, Alejandro Garnacho glided down the left within the opening minute before being clipped by Ruben Dias, who committed the foul on the edge of the City area.
Bruno Fernandes’ free-kick hit the wall and the importance of that chance was quickly discarded, but carried into the hosts’ drive and attacking conviction.
On 20 minutes, Diogo Dalot received the ball on the corner of the penalty area before flicking a curling delivery towards Garnacho inside the area.
It was perhaps the greatest chance of the first half, but the Argentina winger did poorly to completely miss the header.
At the other end, City found a couple of chances but all lacked any real threat. First, Nico O’Reilly sent a curling ball from the left and up front to Marmoush, who took a touch but delayed his release to allow Harry Maguire to block well.
Then, Ilkay Gundogan set himself up from range with a shot across goal and, although Andre Onana was beaten, the ball rolled past the foot of the post and out for a goal kick.
There weren’t many chances holding any conviction from there onwards until the 65th minute, when Marmoush curled a free-kick over the wall before Onana punched it wide.
Just three minutes before, Fernandes started with the ball on a promising counter-attack before playing Dorgu out wide on the left.
The full-back’s low cross was denied by a Dias block met with penalty shouts by the United players and fans, but replays showed there was never an offence committed.
And similarly, after 80 minutes, Mateo Kovacic tried to clear the ball but appeared to have caught Casemiro in the process – not so much to spur referee John Brooks to award a penalty kick, however.
The derby holds so much glamour no matter where either side sits in the Premier League table, but this game at Old Trafford showed that, no matter the excitement, a stalemate can always follow.
look at the context of the game and I understand the critical aspect of the players that played in this game in a different way, because they were fighting all the time for the different titles. It is a different context.
Looking to Lyon
United's Premier League season is all but over, but the Europa League trophy is still very much on the table.
"It's really important. Again, it's not the most important thing for Manchester United because we have a lot of things to do, but you can see it, in this season, the Europa League is really important.
”We can reach the Champions League next season, we can win something, so we are going to do everything to try to go to the next stage."
Manchester United were unable to get back to winning ways in the Manchester derby with the two sides playing out a 0-0 draw.
Ruben Amorim's side played predominately on the counter-attack and created a handful of threatening chances.
In the early stages of this cagey derby, Alejandro Garnacho was released one-on-one, however Manchester City defender Ruben Dias brought him down on the edge of the box.
The Argentine was a constant threat throughout the match, but he misjudged a header at close range.
Captain Bruno Fernandes was the best player on the pitch and he was the catalyst for the majority of United's best moments.
His lofted pass to the back post found Manuel Ugarte, however the midfielder was unable to direct his effort on target.
Here are the key takeaways from the contest.
Leny Yoro excels
With the Reds playing in a low block for most of the game, the back three were frequently in action. Teenager Leny Yoro produced a resilient and composed display, as he continues to look more settled at Old Trafford.
The Frenchman played out from the back with ease, beating the City press with diagonal passes to Diogo Dalot. Yoro also used his athleticism to dribble out from the back and progress the ball through the lines.
The Old Trafford faithful were also impressed with the defender's ability to disposes his opponents and beat them in aerial duels.
Yoro will certainly face tougher tests, with the visitors without a recognised number nine, however this was a performance that the 19-year-old will look to build on.
Improved home form indeed
Another positive for Red Devils boss Amorim was the fact his team continued their improved home form, avoiding defeat for the fifth time in their last six outings at Old Trafford in all competitions, excluding their penalty shootout defeat to Fulham in the FA Cup.
At the beginning of Amorim's tenure, United struggled at home against all opponents and this was mainly because of a lack of confidence. However, in recent weeks they have managed to improve their results at home and have become a lot harder to beat.
Although United will want Old Trafford to become a proper fortress again, their recent home form is a step in the right direction.
Summer investment needed
This match further reinforced the need for major signings to arrive in the upcoming summer transfer window.
Although the hosts played well in certain moments of the game, it is clear that there is a real lack of quality on the pitch, which is preventing Amorim from playing his preferred style of football.
A more experienced number nine would have clearly tested the City backline on a more regular basis. United also need another imaginative and dynamic number ten, who can take some of the creative reasonability off the shoulders of Fernandes.
A new central midfielder will be needed to replace the ageing Casemiro, who did however produce a defensively solid display against the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan. While the most pressing issue that needs to be resolved remains to be in the wingback area.
On several occasions Patrick Dorgu and Dalot found themselves in the final third, however neither defender has the natural I wish to use this opportunity to tell you about JESUS, the only begotten son of GOD who died for the sake of you and I. If you haven't given your life to him, now is an opportunity to accept him as your personal Lord and saviour. As you do, may you be blessed in Jesus name attacking instincts to excel in a wing-back position.
Dorgu is much more suited to the position compared to Dalot, however his general play remains very raw. Officiating officials has played a big role of denying Arsenal the league for three consecutive seasons and He als was the key man of city's dominance in the premier league nearly the past 10 years!! I will miss the golden passes and the super goals that kevin De prune had been producing over the past years ! Well done guys . We come again next season but if the same the same officials will never win the league unless Epl starts hiring referees from outside England Back of cutting edge.
But mancity fans are always saying It's not easy to say goodbye... legend how will we cope up .... it's so sad to see you say goodbye to us....well...it has been so nice to have you in our team...dry of words to explain your best work in city....my the Lord's favour locate you wherever you step ....much love.. KDB we shall miss you king and he is the The best attacking midfielder that we have witnessed in modern day club football after Iniesta. You have taken the pressing game to another level. You will be there in every present day football enthusiast's dream team KDB. Good luck for the future and thank you for all that you have given to Man City and the Premier League but Pep truly has lost this team, his tactics and team selection today was a disgrace sick of his excuses, we could have had another 90mins today and we still wouldn't have scored absolutely dire, why on earth do we have to make a million passes before we actually look to go forward. Why on earth does he continue to stick with, kovacic,nunes,silva,gundo and foden. Peps time has to be running out as he is absolutely clueless a manager can only take you so far until they run out of ideas and that's happened to pep boring slow football it's become a joke. We are playing dreadful football and pep is that stubborn and reluctant to change. Time to put some trust in the younger lads and freshen this squad up as that was dire against a dreadful utd side made them look decent.