Manchester United conceded twice in the final 25 minutes in 4-1 derby defeat at Manchester City. Gary Neville and Roy Keane were critical of the attitude of United's players - and the stats don't make for good reading...
Monday 7 March 2022 18:25, UK
Gary Neville called it "a disgrace". Roy Keane said they "threw in the towel". And the stats show just how much Manchester United's running and performance levels dropped off during their derby defeat at Manchester City.
Riyad Mahrez struck twice in the final stages to take the scoreline to 4-1 and underline City's supremacy over their neighbours but it was the manner in which the visitors dominated in the second half at the Etihad which annoyed the former United captains Neville and Keane.
"Manchester United's response to going 3-1 down has been embarrassing. They have given up," Sky Sports pundit Neville said. "They are walking around the pitch. It's nowhere near good enough. As a Manchester United fan, it's embarrassing."
"They threw the towel in which is shameful," Keane added. "You need character and personality when you're up against it and, after the third goal, it was game over."
The data reflects that feeling.
United didn't have a single shot in the second half and, from the 65th minute onwards, City created six chances to none. Pep Guardiola's side out-passed their opponents 292-57 in that period, with 83.6 per cent possession.
In terms of the running stats, City comfortably outperformed their rivals, running 116.03km to United's 112.71km and outsprinting them 162-125.
In the second half, as City ramped up their intensity from 76 sprints to 86, United dropped from 66 to 59.
"It is a difficult game that shows we have a long way to go to close that gap," United interim boss Ralf Rangnick said.
But while the gap in quality is one thing, the difference in athletic output is another.
"The effort and intensity from United in the last 20 minutes was non-existent," said Neville. "The scoreline isn't the problem. It's the response to going 3-1 down that's the problem.
"At the end of the game, Manchester United finished like an absolute shower. They were a disgrace in the last 25 minutes."
Sky Sports' senior football writer Peter Smith on the Essential Football Podcast:
"There's just really bad signs, as Roy Keane and Gary Neville were very strong on, about the attitude of the players. This was an opportunity to show someone in Rangnick what they can do in the future of the club - they just don't seem to be aware of that, or taking the initiative.
"We've seen comments about Marcus Rashford's disillusionment about his role in the team, but the question is what are his performances looking like? A lot of these players need to start looking at themselves rather than pointing fingers.
"There's been a lot of leaks coming out from the dressing room about players not being happy about Harry Maguire, for instance. Well, perhaps they need to stop asking about their captain's performance and worry about themselves.
"That's the problem at Manchester United, where it looks like they need a big overhaul. How do you turn this around, when the attitude of the players just isn't good enough? They've spent a lot of money on signing players, but actually changing the mentality seems like a real tough job."
Man City host Sporting Lisbon in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Wednesday at 8pm, while Man Utd host Tottenham on Saturday Night Football at 5.30pm - live on Sky Sports Premier League.
