There was very little to talk about after the game between Man City and Man United on Sunday, with the 0-0 scoreline very symbolic of the match itself.
Manchester City were at Old Trafford on Sunday for what was Kevin De Bruyne’s last Manchester derby, after De Bruyne announced his Man City departure ahead of the summer.
But it proved to be an uneventful one for the Belgian in what was his career 22nd game against Man United, with the two neighbouring teams playing out what was a very drab and dull affair.
Pep Guardiola now finds his side in 6th place of the Premier League table after Newcastle United beat Leicester City on Monday night, moving a point and a place ahead of City and with a game in hand too.
Man City now have just seven games left in the Premier League this season, as well as an FA Cup semi final against Nottingham Forest coming up after Man City beat Bournemouth 2-1 in the quarter-finals following the March international break.
And Pep has just a few weeks left to make what will be some tough decisions on his Man City squad ahead of a huge summer transfer window. Though one player bound to be at the fore of Pep’s future plans is Omar Marmoush.
Gary Neville hails Omar Marmoush after Man United 0-0 Man City
Man City signed Marmoush, 26, from Eintracht Frankfurt during the January transfer window, paying £59million to sign the Egyptian international who’s since scored five goals in nine Premier League outings for the Cityzens, having quickly become a huge fan favourite among Man City supporters.
But it’s not just Man City fans who have been impressed by the attacker, who’s been playing as the no.9 following the injury blow to Erling Haaland. Gary Neville has also shared his admiration for Marmoush following the Manchester derby on Sunday, with the former Man United right-back saying after the game: “I like Marmoush.
“I think Marmoush makes runs without the ball which again is an unusual thing in football, I think we see a lot of players waiting for the ball, receiving it, and then they might do something with it. But you see very few players making real direct runs in behind defenders, in between defenders.
“I think he’s good and I think he actually did quite well. He wasn’t given great service today but I think he looks like a good player and could form part of a very good front two or front three depending on what Pep Guardiola does next season.”
Gary Neville has just agreed with Micah Richards on Omar Marmoush
What Marmoush has added to the team is clear: like Neville says, Marmoush makes those piercing runs that opens up defences and that’s something that Man City lacked at times in the first half of the season.
And it’s not just Neville who’s noticed either. Speaking earlier in April, Micah Richards gave his verdict on Marmoush at Man City and explained how Marmoush running in behind makes Man City a more unpredictable threat.
Richards said: “Yeah, he’s different. He can run in behind. I think sometimes when you watch Man City play, they can be quite frustrating because everyone wants the ball to feet. He’s better at linking up the play and he can run in behind. I think people need to remember, Man City won the league without Haaland, you know. They can still win games without Haaland.”
Since Haaland was ruled out for Man City, Marmoush has stepped up and into the no.9 spot, and whilst the United game was a struggle, there’s definitely signs that Man City can go on and challenge for 4th and an FA Cup with Marmoush as the no.9.
The game against Crystal Palace at the Etihad on Saturday will tell us a lot more about where the team is at right now.
