The Japan Times - No 'killer instinct' as Man Utd, Man City play out derby stalemate

City's hopes of Champions League qualification remain in the balance as they remain fifth in the Premier League, which should be enough to reach next season's Champions League.

However, Pep Guardiola's men are just two points above Newcastle, who have two games in hand on City.

A point leaves United languishing down in 13th, but they had the better of a game limited in chances as they missed out on a first league double over City since 2019/20.

"We have so many aspects to improve. Everywhere we need to improve in every aspect: build up, transition, decisions in the final third," said Amorim.

"Every player can improve, they are here because they showed something at other clubs. They have the quality, but we are still a team that plays on transition, we need to spend more time in final third to have more opportunities."

Never in the Premier League era have neither City or United finished in the top four but that record is under severe threat in the coming months.

A contest devoid of quality, intensity or fight summed up a dreadful season for both sides of the Manchester divide.

After a record four consecutive league titles, City's form has fallen off a cliff to leave them at risk of not making the top four for the first time since 2009/10.

United's only chance of Champions League qualification is by winning the Europa League as they are set for their worst ever Premier League finish.

The Red Devils have shown flashes of improvement this week but also failed to score in their 1-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest on Tuesday to underline their problem in front of goal.

"We just need to have a bit more of a killer instinct," said United captain Bruno Fernandes. "In the first half we had to many touches when we just needed one. We were patient, very organised but the killer instinct was missing today."

Kevin De Bruyne started just days after announcing this will be his final season at City.

But the Belgian's performance was the latest example that he is now a shadow of the figure Guardiola said will be remembered as one of the Premier League's all-time greats.

City had the majority of the ball, but United were the more threatening side on the counter-attack in a pedestrian first half.

"We were not good enough to punish them or hurt them a little bit more than what happened," said Guardiola. "We take the point. It would be better to win but still we are there."

Phil Foden had the game's best chance just seconds after half-time, but fluffed his lines with only Andre Onana to beat.

The spectacle did marginally improve after the break as Omar Marmoush's powerful effort from a corner stung the palms of Onana.

Joshua Zirkzee and Mason Mount's introduction off the bench added more thrust to the United attack in the final 20 minutes.

Both had a chance to win it when Zirkzee's shot was clawed away by Ederson and Rico Lewis did well to get in the way of Mount's follow-up effort.

There were smiles during a warm embrace between Guardiola and Amorim at full-time but those pleasantries disguised the fact that neither man can be happy with the state of their sides after a disappointing campaign.

K.Nakajima--JT