“Not so much red or blue: gray would be better.”
The overwhelming feeling of Manchester Derby was perfectly summarized by a comment published on the BBC Sport website.
It could be an exaggeration to affirm, as a respondent did, it was “the worst Derby party in the world.” But the feeling encapsulated mood.
“It is a Manchester derby,” the United Gary Neville captain was sneak up in Sky Sports after the boring goalless tie at Old Trafford. “I should have more blood, thunder, risks and courage involved in the game.
“The congratulation and love I am looking at says that both teams are happy with 0-0. It seems that it is Sunday afternoon and now they will go to dinner roasted together.”
The head coach of United, Ruben Amorim, has not been in England much, but the former sports chief has worked some things.
“I understand everything,” he said. “Gary Neville is critical of everything. I understand that part.”
Amorim’s evaluation was simple. How could anyone expect a repetition of the great games of the past, from the red or blue sides of the Great Division of Mancunian, given where the two teams are at this time?
City remains outside the first four, which would guarantee the qualification for the Champions League next season.
More relevantly, while they remain fifth, which will surely ensure a place in the elite competition of Europe, will leave if Newcastle wins any of their two games in their hand, starting with the game at Monday against Leicester almost convicted.
“I understand that we are, at the time, making the worst season in history,” said Amorim. “Manchester City won everything in the past, but this season is fighting.
“We are not in the best moments to give the best show to all fans. When we are not fighting for great 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 they fought for the titles every time.”
As expected, another former United captain had none of that.
“They interview them as if a draw were not so bad,” Roy Keane said. “A tie does not take you anywhere fast. It is not good enough.
“Forget the best teams. I am about competing with Brentford and Crystal Palace and Wolves and all these teams. Are you telling me that Man Utd should be behind them, even with this group of players?”
For the context, United, in progress for its worst season of the Premier League, are six points ahead of Wolves. Brentford, a place above them in 12th, is four points ahead.
There were also songs after the match against the Glazer family of local fans who stayed, determined to increase the pressure on the owners of the American majority, who blame United States.
But Amorim and the head of the city, Pep Guardiola, have to put aside the noise to offer a significant improvement.
“You see the number of players who have been on top for four, five, six years,” Guardiola said. “This year, we fall. It’s not one, it’s all of them, that’s why we are fighting to win games.”
Man Utd’s midfielder Bruno Fernandes had a different vision of lack of intensity.
“It cannot be as in the past, many things have changed, with Var, everything,” he said. “With Var, you can’t do that. We can’t be as difficult as we want in duels. Everything has changed.”
“That was one of the most boring Manchester derbies I have seen,” Chris Sutton told BBC Radio 5 Live. “It tells you where the clubs are. Both have a lot of work to do in the summer.”
