Manchester United fans staged a post-match demonstration against the club’s ownership and could also have protested about the moribund nature of this game.
Call that a Manchester Derby? Where on the pitch was the passion, the goals, the drama, the tackles? Where was the sense of urgency? Where was the fight for local pride?
This is a derby that will be forgotten about almost immediatelyGetty The players should take a leaf out of the post-match protesters’ book when it comes to passionGettyWhere, too, was Manchester City’s awareness of the galloping threat of Aston Villa and Newcastle United in the race for a Champions League place?
The fans were up for it, trading tirades, but the game was largely lifeless. These were the noiseless neighbours.
Bernardo Silva and Casemiro even had a brief, smiling chat midway through the first half.
Afterwards, the traditional on-field handshakes and hugs almost felt like a love-in. Welcome to Manchester – twinned with Woodstock.
This was a game without edge. Fair enough, salute the departingKevin De Bruyne, but respect Derby traditions. This had a pre-season feel, a testimonial-level intensity.
This was an insult to Manchester Derby heritage.
This contrasted with the memory of Brian McClair striking twice late on for a Maine Road draw in 1990. Or Michael Owen’s late, late winner in a 4-3 classic at Old Trafford in 2009. Or Wayne Rooney’s overhead winner in 2011. Or City triumphing 6- 1 here with Mario Balotelli asking ‘Why always me?’ in 2011.
Or Phil Foden and Erling Haaland scoring hat-tricks in a 6-3 romp in 2022. Or Amad Diallo’s double silencing the Etihad Stadium last December.
But this meeting, the 196th, carried little of note. At half-time, TV ran a section of what they called ‘Manchester United moments’ from the first 45.
Moments? There were precious few highlights. Harry Maguire, Leny Yoro, then Casemiro gave away possession in quick succession.
This was a derby which both teams seemed determined not to lose rather than winAFPUnited began with seven defensive players in their outfield, and relied heavily on Bruno Fernandes for the occasional promising passand Alejandro Garnacho for the fleeting threatening run.
Garnacho is not a no.10; he does his best work cutting in from the wide acres.
In the centre, Rasmus Hojlund ran hard but nowhere of note. It’s painful watching United’s No 9. He’s willing but he’s struggling.
Hojlund’s heat map rarely flickered in the City area. He needs a compass first.
Ruben Amorim’s attempt to play a counter- attacking game might have more potential with a striker of greater potency than Hojlund.
Casemiro delivered a lovely first-time ball down the inside-right channel, and Hojlund set off after it, but his body language betrayed his lack of confidence. Josko Gvardiol easily dispossessed him.
Hojlund managed just one touch in City’s box in the game Hojlund’s anonymous performance could see Amorim look for a new man to lead the line next seasonHojlund might come good with some belief, facing the goal more, and some more one-on-one coaching from Amorim, but United will surely look for a more clinical finisher this summer.
Amorim needs to tweak his own mindset, and understand United’s attacking traditions. The shirt remains red but the boldness has faded.
The loyalty of United fans has certainly not ebbed and they chanted Amorim’s name.
They stayed supportive of their uninspiring team. They deserve so much better from the team and owners.
City were hardly a joy to behold either. Pep Guardiola set them up to control the centre. Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic duly did.
Kevin De Bruyne was further forward, trying to create for Omar Marmoush, but they missed Erling Haaland.
A not-so fitting final Manchester derby to one of the Premier League’s greatsGetty De Bruyne leaves with six Premier League winners’ medals to his nameGettyIt was sad that De Bruyne’s final Manchester Derby should be such a staid affair when it should be a state occasion.
De Bruyne has graced many of them, and brought hisvivid brush-strokes to the canvas of the Etihad and Old Trafford. But not here.
He was applauded when he ran across to take a corner close to the travelling fans, who gave him the ‘we are not worthy’ treatment. He clapped them back.
The 33-year-old rolled back the years a couple of times, sweeping a marvellous crossfield pass to the left, and managing a low shot at Andre Onana, but was otherwise dragged down by the general stymieing of ambition and ability.
Guardiola’s full-backs, Matheus Nunes and particularly Nico O’Reilly, provided what little width City had until Jeremy Doku arrived for Foden just before the hour.
He began running down the left at United, being fouled by Noussair Mazraoui and then Diogo Dalot. At last some adventure.
Unfortunately, Doku’s decision-making let him down.
The game slightly opened up. Omar Marmoush shot straight at Onana. Ederson saved well from Joshua Zirkzee, Hojlund’s replacement.
Jack Grealish replaced Gundogan but never seemed sure whether he was meant to be a no.10 or a no.8.
Everyone else was at sixes and sevens. The cameras turned longingly to Eric Cantona as if for inspiration.
No chance, the game petered out, there was a brief protest and then the whole occasion was thankfully consigned to history.
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