Damper for Chelsea: Manchester's clubs are frustrated by derby

Saturday 12th December 2020

Damper for Chelsea
Manchester's clubs are frustrated by derby

With Kai Havertz and Timo Werner in the starting line-up, Chelsea FC missed the temporary jump to the top of the table. Meanwhile, the two Manchester clubs are bored with a tough draw and thus continue to lag behind their own claims.

In the Premier League derby between Manchester United and local rivals Manchester City, there was no winner. The two teams, which have fallen short of expectations so far this season, drew a goalless and largely uneventful tie in front of empty stands at Old Trafford Stadium.

The hosts, trained by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, had the best scene of the game shortly after the break. Marcus Rashford took the ball after a presentation by Bruno Fernandes, but was fouled in the penalty area by Kyle Walker. The penalty decision for Man United was overturned after review by the video referee because Rashford had previously been sidelined.

Pogba surprisingly in the starting XI

In the starting line-up, Solskjaer surprisingly relied on French world champion Paul Pogba, whose agent Mino Raiola had caused a stir during the week when he said it would be "best for everyone" if Pogba left Man United in January. In the Premier League table, United ranks seventh with 20 points. City is eighth with 19 points. Both teams are playing a mixed season. The Red Devils have only won six out of eleven games, the Citizens have just won five.

Chelsea FC, with German national players Timo Werner and Kai Havertz in the starting line-up, suffered a surprising setback at Everton after nine league games without defeat. The Blues were defeated by the team of the former Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti with 0: 1 (0: 1). In front of 2000 spectators at Goodison Park, Gylfi Sigurdsson scored the winning goal for the hosts with a penalty kick in the 22nd minute.