Pundits voice their concerns for Man Utd after their 3-0 defeat to Man City, and Bruno Fernandes demands more of his side.
Two goals from Erling Haaland and one from Phil Foden had the Blue side of Manchester buzzing, and left the Reds miserable.
The win lifts Pep Guardiola’s side up to 8th in the Premier League with 6 points from 4 games, while Man Utd sit 14th with 4 points.
DONNARUMMA IS PROPER CITEH pic.twitter.com/vIC7xnqKHH
— ¹⁰ (@SxrgioSZN) September 14, 2025
Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: “If you look at the goals, we can avoid those goals. That was the biggest difference. We can do better, especially the second goal. We suffered goals we can avoid.
“The biggest difference was when we had transitions, we didn’t score. In the second half they did better in transition and we suffered in that moment.
“We can do better, that is clear but again transitions – the third goal, lack of quality in the connection, people don’t know who is going to the ball and then the guy is free to score. The first one he is in the middle of four guys and we can be aggressive in that moment.
“In these kind of games we need to be perfect and in this game we were not perfect. The frustration is always the same because with the amount of chances we need to score goals.
“We need to work on a lot of things for the next game.”
Amorim speaking to Sky Sports: “We had a big team in the certain moments. If you look at the three goals, we can avoid the three goals. We can be more aggressive.
“In these kind of games, with top teams the small margins will make the difference. The performance is not good, in certain moments they were better than us and in the end you don’t have a good feeling.
On where he feels United are at: “We play against one coach that won seven Premier League titles and we are building things, trying to fight against these teams. I am not going to defend myself, it’s always the same question, trying to protect myself. We need to do better.
“If I look to the game, last year we draw and won against City and today we were a little bit better but in the small details it was clearly not goof enough. We are building things but of course we need to win.
“I’m not happier. I didn’t see one player in my team not giving the maximum. The rest is with me. The disappointment sometimes I feel we could run more, but I didn’t have that feeling today. It’s my fault, not their fault and I am fine with that.
“I know it’s hard on our fans but again, I cannot point to one player [about lack of] effort. With game intelligence we can improve but that is my fault and we can improve.”
“More fucking holes than a fishnet condom”😂😂😂
That’s some way to describe Man United’s defending from Mark Goldbridge😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/Yq0s2dMXKD
— The 44 ⚽️ (@The_Forty_Four) September 14, 2025
2-0#MCIMUN pic.twitter.com/HqF5tYAu0I
— Out of Context Mark G (@NoContextMarkG) September 14, 2025
3-0#MCIMUN pic.twitter.com/y1BkGflena
— Out of Context Mark G (@NoContextMarkG) September 14, 2025
Thanks United…. pic.twitter.com/vTTxy5lbqH
— Mark Goldbridge (@markgoldbridge) September 14, 2025
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes, speaking to Sky Sports: “No it’s not hard [to find positives]. You have to look at what we did well and it’s not enough because you want to win football games. What we did today was not enough to get a result and that’s what we’ll take from this game. Obviously look at what we have to do better and look to the next game.
“We need to score goals and not concede. We keep creating chances but were not able to score as much as we wanted. We have to be more in control. We concede three goals we could have avoided.
“When we go we have to take more risks and be more brave with the last line. When we pass to our centre-backs they go three against three and squeeze so much. The space is very narrow.”
On whether it feels like United are heading in the right decision: “The result is very bad, very bad on us but I think it’s two ways of looking at this game. The goals could have been avoided. On the ball we were very positive, very brave, we were playing the ball forward. When we created chances we could have been more clean.
“We wanted what City got and that’s the three points. City were smart to get the goals in the way they did, they have a very good team and good players.”
“I think there will be some pressure applied to the manager and his rigidity of sticking with the system,” Gary Neville said on the ramifications of the loss to Man City.
“There have been times when I have seen United lose this type of match when I feel angry and frustrated.
“I just feel nothing, which is even worse. This has been a nothing of a performance. United have just been beaten.
“With Chelsea next week, another defeat and big questions would start to be asked.
Roy Keane said: “This United team lack that real quality, they struggle defensively. They look all over the place. United are an average team, an average Premier League team. The stats will tell you that it goes back to last season as well.
“United’s record against any of the top six teams is really, really poor. They can’t seem to compete. They might have a good 45 minutes or a good hour. They did it quite well against Arsenal. But they lost the match to Arsenal and you play for Manchester United to win football matches.
“It’s no good just beating the lesser teams. You’re playing for Manchester United to beat other good teams. And United can’t do that.
“You talk about the system – but the manager has come in and is sticking to his guns. He’s not budging. The results, and we look at points per game, goals for, goals against – it does concern me. It’s not good reading.
“As soon as the game starts, you’re worried. And you get that feeling when they’re playing any decent team.
“We said they’ve scored four goals (in the league this season) and United are better going forward now. Two of them are penalties. So they’re not exactly a free-scoring team where they might score two or three and then let in one or two. It’s the same problems as last year.
“And what we were told: the new manager needs a pre-season, his own players… They’ve spent over £200m. We keep making excuses but when are we going to see the signs?
“People say: give managers time. Of course. But we saw (Arne) Slot go into Liverpool – and Liverpool were a better team than United last season – but he ended up winning the league. Other managers, you see (Thomas) Frank going into Spurs and you see signs of them getting better. How long do you keep waiting when you keep getting a point a game?”
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: “We are in a situation with a start we didn’t expect and of course our opponents are so strong. We want to be close and still fighting for titles. The spirit was great, our players have a lot of pride and they want to try to do better on a special day. We saw our fans so happy and that is our job, so, so privileged.
“We have many things to improve. We are not yet a team but step by step. The victory helps us a lot. In the games we have had a lot of momentum and others not enough.
“They [Manchester United] have fantastic players and I know here we struggle against them, we have more better results at Old Trafford.”
On Phil Foden: “He played incredible. He is a guy who loves to arrive at the box. Our last Premier League title he was the best player in the Premier League. We need him so much.
“The players have a lot of pride. Erling’s commitment this season is unbelievable. Two games, seven goals is not bad.”
Pep Guardiola, speaking to Sky Sports on getting belief back: “We changed a lot in this transfer window, adding nine players, the core of the team. It is impossible to think about them and achieve what we achieved. The spirit, the body language, to fight altogether, to see the faces around the pitch. It’s a privilege to bring joy and some moments of happiness because I know how much the derby means.
“It is just one game. We did many good things against Tottenham. Today it means a lot, the players were so aggressive. Everyone was like a machine. We play Napoli on Thursday and we have to react and be less naïve. Last season and this season we have been so poor in those terms but the spirit is there and the captains are fantastic.”
On Erling Haaland: “Erling has been incredible since the start but this season he is better than ever. I would say better than the Treble year. He’s dynamic and I don’t judge him for the clearance, we want him to score goals and to help us.”
On Phil Foden: “We missed him so much and the season before he was the best player in the Premier League so we need him, he has a work ethic. Phil is the core, the heart of the club, from the academy and he loves City. To have him back is good news.”
Manchester City’s Phil Foden, speaking to Sky Sports about the tribute to Ricky Hatton: “100% I had extra motivation going into the game, it was for him and his family and for the people suffering right now. The lads gave everything. It wasn’t a pretty match but it was all for him.”
On scoring and reacting to outside talk: “There has been a lot of talk. It’s impossible [not to hear outside talk]. Everything has been quite negative but that’s the world that we live in when you are playing at the highest level.
“When you come off winning the player of the season award the standards are higher and I understand that. It’s about reading those comments, reacting as well as possible and getting back to my level.”
On Erling Haaland: “A complete performance, the way he held up the ball when we were struggling. He did everything. Defending, attacking, running in behind and doing the dirty work. It was a full shift and we need that more.”
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland on playing in the derby: “You could feel it as well from the fans, we needed this. You always want to win the derby but you could feel it extra today. I’m so relieved, so happy we managed to do it altogether. We have to keep going. Today we’re super happy.”
On Phil Foden: “This is the Phil we need. City were waiting for this and we are going to help him as much as we can to make him as good as he was the season before last.”
