Man Utd vs Man City LIVE: Premier League derby finished in a dull goalless draw despite chances for both teams | OneFootball

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De Bruyne deserves a statue at the Etihad - Guardiola

Kevin De Bruyne’s final Manchester derby ended in a whimper as the two teams played out a goalless draw at Old Trafford and settled for a point each.

The hosts started as the stronger team by utilising their pace on the counter-attack with Patrick Dorgu and Alejandro Garnacho developing a fine partnership on the left wing. Dorgu had a decent chance halfway through the first half but lifted a shot over the top.

Earlier Omar Marmoush, who perhaps had City’s best opportunity in the first half, saw his effort deflected by Harry Maguire before Casemiro sent an effort into the arms of Ederson.

A dull match continued in the second half with neither team pushing hard to get the victory. Phil Foden was clear in the box and poked a chance wide before both goalkeepers were called into action. Bruno Fernandes said United lacked ‘a killer instinct’ and everyone watching one would agree.

Man Utd vs Man City LIVE

Lacklustre Manchester derby encapsulates why this is United’s ‘worst season in history’

They traded songs about Manchester City being the best team in the world and Manchester United having won the lot. Call it wishful thinking, nostalgia or simply a distraction from a dull, dismal derby as mediocrity and mundanity ruled at Old Trafford. The 196th derby simply illustrated the slide in standards on both sides of Manchester.

An afternoon notable for the presence of iconic greats – Eric Cantona in the stands, Kevin De Bruyne in the City forward line – was a reminder of what these clubs have been. Now they are 13th and fifth. If City finish any lower and fail to reach the Champions League, the five points dropped against United this season will appear particularly costly. “I prefer to have 10 more points or 20 more but it is what it is,” shrugged Pep Guardiola. “Old Trafford is Old Trafford.”

Mike Jones6 April 2025 20:00

Can City get back to the top?

"It will take time, the players gave everything today,” said Pep Guardiola.

"We will prepare for the upcoming games, there are a few things I'm happy with what I saw, but now we need to achieve the target of qualifying for Champions League then next season is next season."

Mike Jones6 April 2025 19:45

Guardiola on how City improve:

"The players know it. There is a process when the ball is on one side the players need to be in the right position. Today that was not good enough.

"Against a 5-4-1 it's so narrow and congested. We should have been in some positions that we tried to get in but weren't good enough to punish them.

"The last games we much much better, back four better, just our process was not [good] but we know that, when we lose the ball in certain positions they are a strong team and punish you, but we knew that.”

Mike Jones6 April 2025 19:41

Reaction from Pep Guardiola:

"We have the control but not in the right spots to hurt them in the first half, a little better in the first minutes of the second half.

“United have been an incredible transitional team, defend agaisnt us deep, with Garnacho and the pace they have. They link inside, they know perfectly what they have to do. But we take the point, I'd prefer to win but we are there.”

Mike Jones6 April 2025 19:37

Reaction from Mateo Kovacic:

"Not a beautiful game to watch. It was tough. They were aggressive in the mid block so it was tough to find the right spaces to play. It was tough to create chances and we had to be careful with the counter attack because they are good going forward. It was a typical derby. We wanted the win but we take the point and move on.

"We always go for the win but we also had to be careful not to lose it because we are in a battle for the Champions League and we need points. We could have done more going forward and creating more but it was tough with the small spaces. We move on to the next games.

"We have to have the same mindset for Champions League [as going for the title] because it is important that Man City are in the competition next season.

"It will be tough until the end because there are many teams that fight for the top four and no game in the Premier League is easy. But we are confident that we can achieve it."

Mike Jones6 April 2025 19:33

Fernandes on De Bruyne's impact on Premier League:

"De Bruyne made the Premier League better. If City is where he is and Manchester United haven't won many trophies in this period, that is because of Kevin. He deserves all the credit, he has done fantastic.

"Ten years in the Premier League is a lot. Kevin keeps being world class and it was a pleasure to watch him so close, it was a pleasure to play against him and he's going to stay in the history of the Premier League, not only of Man City."

Mike Jones6 April 2025 19:27

Fernandes on how United improve:

"It is not these games that will define that. Whenever we play big teams, we know the pressure and attention is there. If we want to be a big club, like Manchester City and Liverpool, we have to do that consistently. If after today we relax and think that this is enough, we go back again. We have to do this consistently.

"It can't be like it was in the past, a lot of things have changed, with VAR, everything. With VAR, you can't do that.We can't be as rough as we want in the duels. Everything have changed."

Mike Jones6 April 2025 19:22

'I'm not naive or crazy' says Amorim

“I'm not naive or crazy, I can see the moment we are in, I can look at the opponents and understand there is a big gap, but as a leader I cannot say we are going to take all of the time to close the gap.

"Even if we bring in more players we have to hurry and show urgency to do better because we don't have much time at a club like this. We are in a rush.”