Manchester United created more opportunities than Manchester City but failed to take advantage as the Manchester derby at Old Trafford ended in a disappointing goalless stalemate on Sunday.
With both teams not really having anything to gain from the game, it showed in the effort levels with the visitors having more of the possession but hardly carving the hosts open.
While the Red Devils managed 13 shots, only two of them were on target, highlighting once again the lack of attacking firepower at Ruben Amorim’s disposal.
At the end of the game, the Portuguese tactician admitted to Sky Sports that both teams had nothing to gain from the game and thus the contest petered out in the end.
Game petered out
“I think we had some chances to win the game. We tried to use the space in transitions, defending in a low block, but we had our chances. We had some moments with the ball, we pushed City into their half, we were closer to a goal but we can accept a draw. We were closer to the goal, they had more possession but that is normal.
“If you look at the moment of both teams, not fighting for titles, that changes the game completely. The feeling of winning, not being able to lose one point, that feeling is not here. As the coach it’s hard to say that. We need to fight for big things, if we do then the feeling will be completely different.”
“We had our chances, we had our moments…you could see.”
Ruben Amorim claims his Manchester United side posed more of a threat in the Manchester Derby but acknowledges his team needs to improve 💪 pic.twitter.com/K4auEy9KbI
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 6, 2025
This was the second consecutive game wherein the attackers failed to shine and it once again highlighted how the management have failed to get things right in the market with the ex-Sporting CP boss paying the price as a result.
When asked on what he feels his team needs to improve, the 40-year-old emphatically said that everything needs to change if the club is to get back where it belongs.
“We have so many aspects to improve. Everywhere we need to improve in every aspect, build up, transition, decisions in the final third. Every player can improve, they are here because they showed something at other cubs.
“They have the quality, we are still a team that plays on transition, we need to spend more time in final third to have more opportunities.”
Players need to improve a lot
The 20-time English league champions are currently 13th, on course for their worst-ever finish in the Premier League and Amorim is under pressure to get things right next season.
And he admitted that the players need to step up given INEOS’ target of winning the league in 2028 and that needs to happen irrespective of who the club brings in in the summer.
“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.”
“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.”
Feature image Michael Steele via Getty Images
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Ayantan Chowdhury
Ayantan has worked for 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites but his heart was always set on writing about his favourite club. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25
