MAYBE Kevin De Bruyne is getting out of Manchester at the right time.
City’s Belgian skipper has played in some memorable derbies during his 10 year stay in the North West.
"This is a friendly derby…"
Roy Keane gives a blunt verdict on the first-half showing in the Manchester derby 😮 pic.twitter.com/nxc0wdQvD2
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 6, 2025
Man Utd and Man City played out a snooze fest at Old Trafford[/caption]
Roy Keane slammed the ‘friendly’ Manchester Derby[/caption]
Neither side was able to create many clear cut chances[/caption]
Game came with the backdrop of being Kevin De Bruyne’s last Manchester Derby[/caption]
But this was certainly not one of them – in fact it was one of the worst.
For the first time in a while, these two old rivals have little to play for as far as the Premier League is concerned.
And it showed during a largely forgettable 90 minutes.
Roy Keane made his feelings abundantly clear speaking on Sky Sports, calling the clash a “friendly derby” which had a glaring “lack of quality”.
At least Ederson ensured KDB’s final match up against the neighbours did not end up in a third straight derby defeat.
He made a flying late save from sub Joshua Zirkzee to ensure City got a point in their bid to make the Champions League places.
But actually the most interesting moment of the game came inside the first minute.
Alejandro Garnacho burst through on goal but was upended by Ruben Dias.
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Some United fans thought referee John Brooks had pointed to the spot but it was right on the edge of the box – and the VAR stuck with his initial decision.
Bruno Fernandes fired his free-kick into the wall and City had got away with one.
Unfortunately that incident was by far the most interesting moment of a thoroughly forgettable first half.
United had the better of what few opportunities there were with Garnacho mis-judging a cross from Diogo Dalot which dipped on him quicker than he expected.
Garnacho’s pull back fell nicely into the path of Patrick Dorgu but his first touch was poor and the chance was gone.
As ever, United’s best moments came from Fernandes and his cross to the back post found Manuel Ugarte but he got his volley all wrong.
Pep Guardiola had opted to flood the middle of the park but it meant his team struggled to create any clear openings.
Their best moment came when Nico O’Reilly found Omar Marmoush but Harry Maguire got back to make a key block.
Meanwhile, Mazrouai had to head off the line after Casemiro and Andre Onana made a hash of dealing with a De Bruyne corner.
The second half had to be better – and to be fair it was.
Phil Foden ran onto a flick by Marmoush and got in behind the United defence only for Mazrouai to make another saving tackle – even winning the goal-kick.
The Three Lions man was hooked soon after – it more or less sums up the season he has had.
His England team-mate Harry Maguire also went off to be replaced by Victor Lindelof – which will be a concern ahead of the Europa League quarter final with Lyon.
De Bruyne saw a free-kick pushed away theatrically by Onana – but replays showed it was a routine save – a good one for the cameras.
You can’t blame the Cameroon for trying to provide a bit of drama and he did so again minutes later – pushing away a stinging volley by Marmoush.
Sub Zirkzee could have won it late on as he ran onto Dorgu’s cross but his effort was pushed away by Ederson.
Mason Mount had also come off the bench for his first appearance at Old Trafford since December but he saw the rebound blocked.
Unlike at the Etihad just before Christmas, there was to be no late drama this time.
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