Manchester United held rivals Manchester City to a dull derby draw which exposed the problems facing both clubs at the moment.
United and City have been below their usual standards this season and the goalless draw at Old Trafford displayed that. “There’s a real lack of quality,” said an aghast Roy Keane at half-time. “No atmosphere.”
“It’s laboured, it’s flat. There’s no energy. There’s no anything!” added Micah Richards.
For United, their problems lie in attack. For all their sharpness on the counter-attack, they failed showed the quality up front to make City pay. Alejandro Garnacho missed a good chance from close range in the first half, while Manuel Ugarte flashed wide in the second.
Rasmus Hojlund was withdrawn with just 15 touches and no shots to his name and his replacement Joshua Zirkzee went close to an elusive opener, as he tested Ederson from Patrick Dorgu’s cross.
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Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho scuffs a header from close range against Manchester City
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Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson makes a crucial stop to deny Joshua Zirkzee
City’s issues, meanwhile, are still in transition with United causing all sorts of problems on the break. They also looked toothless without Erling Haaland’s presence.
His understudy Omar Marmoush hit routine second-half efforts straight at Andre Onana, while Phil Foden was taken off on 56 minutes having made little impact once again.
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Andre Onana keeps out Omar Marmoush’s free-kick
There would be no final Manchester derby win for Kevin De Bruyne, who started his 21st game against United in the week he announced he would be leaving City this summer. This was not the farewell to this fixture the Belgian deserved after a glittering City career.
The result means City have missed the chance to jump over Chelsea into fourth place, after the Blues’ goalless draw at Brentford earlier in the day.
It gives Newcastle the chance to draw level on points with Chelsea – and with a game in hand – if they beat Leicester on Monday Night Football. United, meanwhile, remain in 13th – seven points below the top half.
Neville’s damning verdict on flat Manchester derby
Sky Sports’ Gary Neville:
“The congratulations and love-in that I’m watching at the full-time whistle tells you that both teams are happy with a 0-0.
“The best Manchester United and Manchester City teams would be very disappointed at the end of that game with the way they approached it.
“They have been micro-managed to within an inch of their lives. It was so robotic.
“It wasn’t good enough and I am disappointed. It’s a Manchester derby and it should have more blood, thunder and risk than that.”
More to follow.