Manchester United held Manchester City to a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford on Sunday — and it’s hard to know what to make of it. A flat performance from City gave United the platform to take something, but the hosts never truly looked like doing much with it.
It was a game light on chances and low on conviction. Manchester United created no big chances and managed just two shots on target.
For all the growing talk of structure under Rúben Amorim, the team once again showed the same attacking flaws: rushed decision-making, poor shot selection, and an inability to stitch together meaningful phases in the final third.
This was a performance that offered shape but little substance. Amorim’s tactical identity is slowly taking root, but the execution remains uneven. Especially in attack, where every promising moment seems to dissolve into chaos. United did enjoy some time on the ball when switching play across the pitch, but it rarely led to anything threatening.
United sat deeper — as we’ve seen them do against sides that want to dominate possession — and aimed to keep central areas compact. But the moment they crossed halfway, composure vanished. If there’s a script to build on, it’s being overwritten by instinct and impatience.
Casemiro’s resurgence reflects Amorim’s adaptability
One of the few highlights for United was Casemiro. The veteran midfielder, once thought to be on his way out, delivered a defiant, grounded performance — 11 tackles, a joint-Premier League record for a United player, and 60 touches, only bettered by Diogo Dalot and Bruno Fernandes.
Earlier in the season, Amorim admitted Casemiro often found himself too high up the pitch — operating in uncomfortable zones that left him exposed. That’s changed. The Brazilian is now sitting deeper, playing more to his strengths, and once again influencing games the way he has throughout his career.
The shift reflects not just the Brazilian’s resurgence, but also Amorim’s willingness to adapt. His system isn’t rigid; it’s learning its players. And in Casemiro, he’s rediscovered a player who can still lead a midfield when the conditions suit.
So much of what works in this United side still runs through Fernandes, who remains the club’s best player by a distance. If he could be on the receiving end of his own passes, United would likely be much higher in the table. His creativity is unmatched — but the lack of support or structure around him continues to limit his impact.
Tempo and the frustration factor
United’s tempo — or lack of control over it — was again an issue. While Andre Onana looked to slow the game from deep and offer reset moments, as play moved up the pitch, everything began to feel rushed.
There’s a pattern to how United attack: one or two passes, then a quick attempt. No layering, no pressure, no sequencing. Just flashes of intent followed by low-quality shots or misread runs. They’re not just failing to convert chances — they’re failing to build them in the first place.
Every time it feels like United are about to settle, someone pulls the trigger too early, or the final ball is too ambitious. The system suggests control, but the actions tell a different story.
Read More: Three reasons why Manchester United prefer Liam Delap over Viktor Gyökeres this summer revealed
Until the attacking rhythm matches the defensive discipline, results like this — controlled but toothless — will continue to define the season.
Make sure to follow UtdDistrict on X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok to never miss out on any of our Manchester United content. Our podcast, What the Devil?, is streamed live every Thursday at 12:30 pm (BST) on the United View YouTube channel.