United and City equalize 0-0 in Manchester derby

MANCHESTER, April 28: Manchester United were able to withstand 10 men in the final minutes following the dismissal of Marouane Fellaini for the header that gave Sergio Agüero, taking a 0-0 draw at Manchester City on Thursday at the Liga Premier, keeping red hot the pulse for the squares of the next Champions League.

Fellaini, United’s spunky Belgian midfielder, was sent off after receiving a second yellow card in the 83rd minute when he faced Argentina’s Agüero, knocking him down. Just 19 seconds earlier, Fellaini had been admonished by a stumbling block to Agüero.

United coach Jose Mourinho did not want to criticize his player, saying that Fellaini considered that he was expelled for his bad reputation and that Agüero “did not leave with a broken nose, with nothing in the head” when he saw the attacker of the City in the tunnel .

“He can not see the play well, but I suppose he had something for a red and he had something with an Argentine player who is very experienced, alive.”

The City crossed again to the scoring scorer Gabriel Jesus in search of a bit about the end. The Brazilian striker shouted at the rebates, but the goal was nullified by a forward position in a tense final at Etihad Stadium.

Mourinho appealed to an ultra-defensive scheme, suffocating another of the Premier’s heavyweights. But perhaps the goalless draw will not be a result that ultimately benefits the team.

United remain in fifth place, one rung and one point behind City, with five dates in the bid for the Premier League’s top four.

Liverpool lead by one point to the City, with a game more than both Manchester clubs.

The top three will qualify for the group stage of the Champions League, while the fourth will play a preliminary stage.

“I think the City will be among the top four,” said Mourinho. “For the parties that will have to play, I think they will achieve it. I think it will be defined between us, Arsenal and Liverpool. ”

United face the most demanding schedule, with visits to Tottenham and Arsenal, in addition to continuing in the Europa League. They are also handicapped by injuries, which is compounded by Fellaini’s imminent three-game suspension.

But as they become just the second team, after Stoke, who prevents City from scoring a goal this season at home, United stretched their unbeaten streak to 24, which goes back to a backhand Chelsea in October.

“We have the quality,” City Manager Pep Guardiola said. “But it’s not easy with both players behind the ball.”

Mourinho commented that United was “the best team in the first half … and the best in the second. It was awesome how they fought. ”

Claudio Bravo, Chile’s Chilean goalkeeper, had to leave the game on a stretcher shortly before Fellaini’s expulsion after injuring himself after a corner kick.

In three City-United matches this season, two in the league and the other in the League Cup, Mourinho and Guardiola won a duel and tied the other.-AP