Ralf Rangnick has defended his Manchester United players following scathing attacks from former captains Roy Keane and Gary Neville after Sunday's 4-1 defeat to Manchester City.
Keane accused United of "throwing in the towel" during Sunday's capitulation at the Etihad Stadium, while fellow Sky Sports pundit Neville labelled his old club a "disgrace".
Pep Guardiola’s reigning champions ran amok against their neighbours, regaining their six-point advantage over second-placed Liverpool at the top of the Premier League.
Kevin de Bruyne scored either side of a fine Jadon Sancho leveller in a frantic opening period that made way for a second-half cakewalk as City put their foot on the gas and United retreated into their shell.
Riyad Mahrez scored twice to wrap up a 4-1 win, but asked what he thought of the character and attitude of his players in the second half, interim United boss Rangnick said: “To be honest, I didn’t have the impression that they didn’t try.
“But it’s difficult against a team like Man City once you are 3-1 down [against] the best team in possession of the ball on the planet it’s difficult.
“I cannot blame anyone for not having tried and put effort into that game, but it was difficult after the third goal.”
Keane, who made more than 300 United appearances during a distinguished playing career, attacked several United players he accused of neglecting their defensive duties, and United's shortcomings - they are 22 points behind their neighbours in fifth place - were on display for all to see.
“I think the worst thing you could say about United is they did give up,” Keane told Sky Sports. “For a player in a derby, or any game, to give up, it’s unforgivable really.
“The beauty of top-level sport is there is no hiding place. We saw all United’s shortcomings today.
“There’s ways to lose football matches, we’ve all lost football matches, but the way United lost today. They stopped running. They gave up. There’s players out there not running back.
“It’s shameful. A couple of lads in midfield, [Aaron] Wan-Bissaka, Fred, [Marcus] Rashford came on. I could go on. And City weren’t even at their best. They didn’t have to be.
“They gave up, Shame on them!”
Manchester derby ratings
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MAN CITY RATINGS: Ederson - 7: Out quickly to save at feet of Fred and prevent United grabbing instant first-half leveller. No chance with sublime Sancho finish. Getty -
Kyle Walker - 7: Launched some marauding runs down right flank that didn’t always end with a decent final product. Solid performance though. EPA -
John Stones - 7: England defender was kept on toes despite United not employing a recognised centre-forward but not exactly over-worked. A stroll in park in second half. AP -
Aymeric Laporte - 7: Assured night’s work from Spain defender who was rarely troubled by a United attack lacking a cutting edge. Getty -
Joao Cancelo - 8: Vital tracking back and challenge on Elanga as United man lined-up shot on goal after 60 minutes. Saw acrobatic volley saved by De Gea with 10 minutes left. EPA -
Rodri - 7: Arguably slow to react when Sancho was able to ghost inside and level for United, but let’s give benefit of doubt to quality of United winger. Looked a level above United’s central midfielders throughout. Reuters -
Jack Grealish - 7: Involved in move for early City goal and helped drive City forward from midfield. Former Villa man learning to play in a team where he is not the main attacking threat. Getty -
Kevin de Bruyne - 9: Dream start with low finish after just five minutes for 50th Premier League goal. Denied another by smart De Gea save, then did lash home second just before half-hour mark. Picked out Mahrez with perfect corner for third goal. Big game from a big-game player. Getty -
Bernardo Silva - 8: Portuguese’s cut-back supplied De Bruyne with opening goal and provided cross for Foden’s header that bit bar. His blocked shot fell for De Bruyne to score his second. Getty -
Riyad Mahrez - 8: Had low strike superbly saved by De Gea just before break. Curled shot from edge of box over bar just before hour. First-time finish on half-volley made it 3-1 via slight deflection and scored second in injury-time after tight offside call from VAR went in his favour. PA -
Phil Foden - 9: Felt he should have had penalty after wrestling match with Maguire but foul given other way. Clipped top of bar with header, had shot saved by De Gea in run-up to De Bruyne’s second, then dragged another chance wide in breathless first half. Reuters -
SUBS: Ilkay Gundogan – (On for De Bruyne 80’) N/A. Scuffed chance to make it 4-1 wide of target. Reuters -
MAN UNITED RATINGS: David de Gea - 7: No chance for the opener. Good save from De Bruyne on 17. Dived to save from Mahrez on 44, but couldn’t save the deflected third from the same player. He was fuming at that. Saved from Cancelo’s overhead kick. Faced 10 shots on target. EPA -
Aaron wan-Bissaka - 5: City attacked towards him on their left, with Silva and Grealish a continual danger. Didn’t stop cross for the first. Involved in United’s equaliser, a highlight early on as his teammates threw the towel in. AP -
Victor Lindelof - 5: Tough for him on the right against the bulk of City’s attacks and could have done better for both City’s first half goals. Too much space around him, which City exploited. Reuters -
Harry Maguire - 5: Blocked a 15th minute De Bruyne attack. Battled with Foden but United’s central defenders remain an issue and he could have put the ball out for the second. Booked for a late challenge on De Bruyne, who’d bested him all game. Deflected the ball past De Gea for City’s third. Captained a side who gave up and that’s unforgivable. Getty -
Alex Telles - 5: Not close enough to De Bruyne for the opener. Far quieter for him compared to Wan Bissaka on the other side, but Mahrez cut inside too easily against him. Swung to shoot on 45 but shot blocked. Reuters -
Scott McTominay - 5: Up against it in the first half. Blocked a 48th minute shot from Silva. Blocked a Foden pass into the box but slow to get back for City’s third. Or was it the fourth? Outclassed by a very good team. Like the rest. Getty -
Fred - 5: Super feet to beat two defenders and get United’s first effort on target. Helped attacks but passed a ball back 60 yards which led to a City free-kick. Man of the match here two years ago. No United players were in the best 10 players on the pitch in this game. PA -
Jadon Sancho - 6: Super curling shot against his former club for the equaliser on 21. Leaned back and rushed a 41st minute chance which was easier than the one for his goal. Positive first half. Nothing in the second, like his team. PA -
Anthony Elanga - 6: Kept wide and gave the ball away which led to City’s second. Productive first half though. Played deeper to help Wan Bissaka in the second half. Looked a threat until he went off after 63 but gave a couple of balls away. Getty -
Paul Pogba - 5: Played up front alongside Fernandes. Beautiful ball and link play to set up the first. Gave ball away on 39 after a spell of United possession – and did that too often. Faded in the second half, but his team were still weaker without him. EPA -
Bruno Fernandes - 6: Played more advanced with the intention to stop City playing out. Clever overlap run helped Sancho for equaliser, then the superior talents of superior opponents took over for the second Manchester derby this season. PA -
Jesse Lingard – (On for Elanga 64’) 4: First touch of the ball came six minutes after joining. His second came 19 minutes later. And that was it. Two touches as his side were toyed with. EPA -
SUBS: Marcus Rashford – (On for Pogba 64’) 4: On as United shifted formation. Ran into four City players when left alone in a 70th minute City attack. Nothing else. EPA
With United out of both domestic English cup competitions Rangnick - who will remain in charge of the first team until the end of the season - only has the league and Champions League to focus on.
The German’s frustration was clear in the post-match press conference and extended beyond those on display, with Edinson Cavani and Cristiano Ronaldo unavailable through injury.
But it is hard to say how much difference the veterans would have made at the Etihad Stadium.
“Look, I am still the manager for another 10 games in the Premier League and for hopefully a few more games in the Champions League and it doesn’t make sense now to start some speculations about how many players would we need, on which positions would we need them," he said.
“This is not my issue. Right now it’s about preparing the team for the Tottenham game and after that for a very important game against Atletico in the Champions League.
“Right now, we have to be – and I am – happy with the players that we have. This is clear.”
City counterpart Pep Guardiola was positively purring over his side's display, particularly in the second half when they continually carved United open.
“Well, if the second half is not our best I don’t know what we have to do, honestly,” the City boss said. “I’m such a demanding man, but I know my limits and I know the players’ limits and the second half in all terms [was excellent].
“United were eight games without defeat, we had I don’t know how many shots in the second half, so the display was excellent.
“I’m the biggest critic to my team, but when we play good, we play good and today we played really good.”
