Ruben Amorim and Pep Guardiola vowed that their teams will be better next season after producing a dud Manchester derby at Old Trafford.
One of the biggest fixtures in the English football calendar was an anti-climax as United and City laboured to a goalless draw.
The third meeting between Amorim and Guardiola this season was a far cry from the other two after Sporting Lisbon beat City 4-1 in the Champions League in November and United staged a smash and grab at the Etihad in December.
Amorim is determined to turn United’s fortunes around as fast as he can, and indicated that next season’s Manchester derbies will be very different.
‘In the moment it’s still really hard every day, but of course you can imagine that the next season is going to be so much different,’ said the United boss.
‘That’s why I’m always saying that I’m in a rush because we are suffering a lot. Everybody here is suffering a lot with all these changes, and we have to show something in the next year.
Pep Guardiola (left) and Ruben Amorim (right) insist their sides will be better next season
The Manchester derby between United and City offered little in terms of entertainment
‘We have so many aspects to improve: build-up, transition, decisions in the final third. 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 and we need to spend more time in final third to have more opportunities.’
United captain Bruno Fernandes accepted that his team were not ruthless enough in front of goal with what few chances came their way.
‘We played against a very good side but the game was there and we needed a killer instinct to get the goals,’ said Fernandes.
Guardiola is in the process of rebuilding his team and he too believes City will be a different proposition next season.
‘We’re going to take time, next season will be the season,’ he said.
‘But I’m not concerned about next season right now, I’m just concerned about recovery, Crystal Palace, Everton, Aston Villa and the FA Cup semi-finals.
‘I’d prefer to have 10 more points or 12 more points but it is what it is. It’s Old Trafford, it’s always difficult. We fought and we were there. The players gave everything. I’m happy with what I saw. We were not in the right position to hurt United more than we hurt them, but it’s fine. We take the point and move on.’
