Manchester United 0 Manchester City 0: Louis van Gaal blames bad luck in post-match press conference

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal said his side controlled Sunday's (25 October) local derby against Manchester City for 90 minutes and only bad luck prevented them from claiming all three points. United and City played out a dour 0-0 draw at Old Trafford that was short on entertainment as well as chances with both sides cancelling each other out.

United came closest to breaking the deadlock in the closing stages when substitute Jesse Lingard hit the crossbar and defender Chris Smalling forced a smart save from City keeper Joe Hart. Van Gaal felt aggrieved that his side were not awarded a penalty in the second half following a coming together in the penalty area between United midfielder Ander Herrera and City forward Raheem Sterling.

"I'm disappointed but I said also to my players that I cannot complain because I'm very proud of my players. We are still two points behind so it's disappointing," said the Dutchman.

"I cannot complain, only I am disappointed and we don't have the luck neither because I've seen on the video that, Herrera, it was a penalty; it's a penalty but the referee was not giving us that benefit and of course it is difficult to see, I can see it on the video and you can see it clearly that he (Raheem Sterling) doesn't touch the ball but the legs of Herrera, but that luck we don't have in this season.

"I can imagine that it is very difficult for the referee but it is not a big issue but it is like that. It is not the first time that I see that like that way but we also have to score also out of our three chances."

Van Gaal lost his patience when questioned again about the form of his England striker Wayne Rooney. "I have to talk every week about Rooney. Why? I don't give any answer any more about Wayne Rooney because I'm sick of it," he told reporters.