Manchester United 0-0 Manchester City: important changes needed in both clubs

“Not so much red or blue: the gray would be better.”

The overwhelming feeling around 196th Manchester derby was well summarized by a comment published on the BBC Sport website.

It could be a stretch to claim, as an interviewee did, it was “the worst game of derby in the world”. But feeling has encapsulated the mood.

“He is a Manchester derby”, he rolled the former captain United Gary Neville on Sky Sports after the bride’s draw at Old Trafford. “He should have more blood, thunder, risk and courage involved in the game.

“The congratulations and the love I am looking at say that both teams are happy with 0-0. It seems that it is Sunday afternoon and now they will go to make a roasted dinner together.”

United Ruben Amorim coach has not been in England for a long time, but the former sports boss developed some things.

“I understand everything,” he said. “Gary Neville is fundamental on everything. I understand that part.”

Amorim’s evaluation was simple. How can you expect a resumption of the great games of the past, from the red or blue sides of the great Mancunian gap, given where are the two teams right now?

The city remains outside the first four, which would guarantee the qualification for the Champions League next season.

More pertinent, while it remains fifth – which will almost certainly ensure a place in the elite competition in Europe – they will fall if Newcastle will win one of their two games in hand, starting from Monday’s home match against the almost Doomed Leicester.

“I understand that, at the moment, we are doing the worst season of history,” said Amorim. “Manchester City has won everything in the past, but this season is fighting.

“We are not in the best moments to give the best show to every fan. When we are not fighting for big things, of course it is different.

“You have to look at the context of the game. I understand the critical aspect of the players who played in this game in a different way, because every time they were fighting for the titles.”

It is not surprising that another former United captain has had nothing of this.

“They are interviewed as if a tie was not so bad,” said Roy Keane. “A draw doesn’t take you anywhere. It’s not good enough.

“Forget the best teams. They are in competition with Brentford and Crystal Palace and Wolves and all these teams. Are you telling me that Utd man should be behind them, even with this group of players?”

For the context, United – on the route for their worst season of the Premier League – is six points in front of the wolves. Brentford, a place above them at the 12th, is ahead of four points.

There have also been post-game songs against the Glazer family from the fans of the house who remained behind, determined to put pressure on the American majority owners, who blame for the parliamentary state of the United.

But Amorim and the boss of the city Pep Guardiola must put aside the noise to provide significant improvements.

“See the number of players who were at the top for four, five, six years,” said Guardiola. “This year, we fall. It’s not one, that’s all – that’s why we are fighting to win the games.”

“That was one of the most boring Manchester derby I saw,” said Chris Sutton at the BBC Radio 5 Live. “He tells you where the clubs are. Both have a lot of work to do in the summer.”