Ruben Amorim has suggested that Sunday’s Manchester derby was affected by both teams’ underwhelming seasons so far.
The latest derby between Manchester United and Manchester City ended in a lackluster 0-0 draw, with only two major chances created throughout the 90 minutes. Few players seemed disappointed to settle for a point after the final whistle. The game, often humorously referred to as Kevin De Bruyne’s “testimonial” after his announcement of an imminent departure, never truly sparked into life. Amorim believes the lack of stakes contributed to the disappointing display.
“Both teams aren’t fighting for the title – that changed the game,” he explained. “You can make a fun game, but that feeling of not wanting to drop points and winning every game at home wasn’t there. It’s hard to admit, but we need to fight for bigger things. If we were fighting for big things, the urgency would’ve been completely different, but both teams have a lot of doubts.”
For City, the game was about boosting their chances of finishing in the top four—well below their pre-season expectations but still crucial following their mid-season dip. Pep Guardiola’s side remains fifth, just one point behind Chelsea.
United, on the other hand, had little to play for domestically, with pride the only thing on the line. Amorim’s side is currently 13th, with a negative goal difference (-4) after 31 games.
“I can see it,” Amorim reflected on his team’s performance. “The connections are there. The players are more comfortable in their positions. We can find players between the lines and are calm with the ball. We’re better, but we still have a lot to improve.”
“I’m not naïve or crazy. I understand there’s a big gap when comparing to the opponents, but as a leader, I can’t say we have all the time in the world. You have to feel the urgency, to hurry to do better. At a club like ours, there isn’t much time. We’re in a rush, that’s clear.”
