Cruz in the meek Manchester derby | Aftonbladet

Of: Erik karlsson

Published: December 12, 2020 at 8:20 p.m.
Updated: December 12, 2020 at 9:12 PM

If a match contains nothing, has it been played?

After a weak Manchester derby, what was required was a philosophical analysis.

– This (second) half has not happened, there is no content, says Erik Niva in Viasat.

For Manchester United, the derby came as a rematch after this week’s Champions League exit, giving City a chance to pass the rival on the table and get serious about fighting with the best teams in the league. table.

But of the conditions for a hot and roaring derby, perhaps the most surprising was that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer gave Paul Pogba the opportunity despite agent Mino Raiola saying that “his time at the club is up.”

Good play

In the game, Riyad Mahrez had the best opportunity of the first half with a quick change that David de Gea saved from the right. In the second, a penalty was awarded to United, who then pulled the VAR room after a Marcus Rashford offside in the above situation.

A covered shot from well-placed Kevin de Bruyne and a bit of mid-position were the only heart rate boosters on offer for 90 minutes.

Not a bit of intensity was offered in the derby. The fact that Harry Maguire received the first yellow card of the match in the 79th minute says something about it.

“I could play for any length of time”

After the game, Erik Niva was abandoned in Viasat’s studio.

– It is sometimes said that a match could have lasted four days without a goal, this match could have lasted any time, there would have been no goals, says the Sportbladet columnist and continues:

– I do not think it is possible to play such insignificant football with an audience in the stands, it would not have been accepted. This (second) half has not happened because there was no content. Players were traded and a ball was played between them, but it wasn’t football, he says.

The crossing places the team seventh, United, and eighth, City, in the table of 20 and 19 points respectively. Tottenham leads the table with 24 points.

– We are happy with one point. “It was a war of positions in many ways, but we can take a lot of things that we won’t concede a goal in a derby,” says City midfielder John Stones, who is home to the club’s sixth consecutive zero.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was very satisfied with the game:

– We are very happy with the defense but we did not create as much striker as we want, he says and continues:

– During my time, it’s our best effort against City. It is not the best result, but it is the best performance.

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Published: December 12, 2020 at 8:20 p.m.

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