According to Louis Van Gaal, Manu were unlucky in the Old Trafford #ManchesterDerby, which finished goalless on Sunday.
Speaking in a post-match interview for Sky Sports, Van Gaal Said, “We were unlucky and they were lucky. That is what I can say about this match.”
With the ghosts of recent derby day calamities looming large, #MUFC began the game, predictably, with the majority of possession. And just as predictably, this possession was for the most part in the middle third of the pitch.
City’s first half
#MCFC had a good chance early doors when Raheem Sterling’s shot from inside the box was deflected wide for a corner.
Despite their possession, it took Manu fourteen minutes to have their first sniff on goal. Following a trip on Martial, Wayne Rooney swung the free kick into the area. The ball was met by the head of Otamendi, who was outstanding all afternoon for City at the back.
City’s counter attacking style almost paid dividends in the fortieth minute. Yaya Toure found himself unmarked in the area. Much to the relief of the United defence, his header drifted inches wide of the upright. The best chance of the half, and the closest either side came to scoring. In terms of chances on goal, the half ended 4-0 to City.
New half, new Manu
#MUFC started the second half brightly, with a half-hearted penalty appeal following a trip on Ander Herrera.
It took until the 50th minute for Manu to have their first chance on goal. A header from Chris Smalling, which drifted just wide of the post.
By the 60th minute, United were starting to impose themselves, but still hadn’t fashioned a clear cut chance. Martial, operating on the left wing, looked isolated as United’s only attacking threat.
When Lingard replaced Mata in the 66th minute, it was with the intention of providing the young Frenchman with some support. The fact that three minutes earlier, Harry Kane had completed a hat-trick for Spurs, shouldn’t be lost on the United hierarchy.
It was United that came the closest to scoring. In the 84th minute, Martial picked out the run of Jesse Lingard.
His close range shot looked a certainty to find the back of the net, but instead clipped the cross bar and bounced to over.
United continued to look the more likely to score as the game reached its climax. In the 87th minute, a Wayne Rooney free kick found Marouanne Fellaini, who knocked the ball down to Chris Smalling. The defender’s shot looked to be creeping in, but was brilliantly saved by Joe Hart at his near post. With just a little more power, Smalling could have secured the points for Manu.
Speaking on MUTV, Manu manager, Louis Van Gaal said: “They (the fans) are also disappointed, like me, because you have to win against these kind of teams, also for the fans, but the way we have played gives hope for the future."
Title Aspirations
A draw was a fair result.
Both teams contributed to what was one of the best goalless draws you’ll ever see. There is a lot forManchester United supporters to take heart from. At the very least they were City’s equal. For the first time since the departure of Alex Ferguson, United look genuine title contenders. With an addition to the front line in January, the dream could well become a reality.
Do Manu have sufficient fire power to win the Premier League with their current squad? Share your thoughts in the comments.
