Jose Mourinho hailed Manchester United’s “amazing character” despite suffering from fatigue in Thursday night’s goalless draw at Manchester City.
The Manchester United manager started the derby clash without top goal-scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic and record signing Paul Pogba due to injury.
The visitors managed to limit Manchester City to long-range effort, while Ander Herrera missed Manchester United’s best chance to score at The Etihad.
Marouane Fellaini was sent off in the final five minutes after the Belgium international clashed with Argentina international Sergio Aguero.
The towering midfielder will miss Manchester United’s next three games, starting with their home clash against Swansea City on Sunday afternoon.
Speaking to BBC Sport after 10-man Manchester United secured a point at the Etihad Stadium, Mourinho admitted that his team was contending with fatigue.
“Of course with so many problems, with so many injuries, with so many matches there is incredible fatigue.
“The boys gave absolutely everything. The first half was what we wanted – we controlled totally and quite easily defensively and had the game under control.”
Mourinho added: “We are going down in terms of the number of players. It is very difficult for us but the character is amazing and I’m very proud of the boys.”
Timothy Fosu-Mensah was a late substitute for the visitors after Fellaini’s sending off in the Manchester derby.
However, Mourinho revealed the Netherlands star picked up a problem in the closing moments of the Premier League clash.
“We will fight until the end – today we lost two more players – Timothy Fosu-Mensah had an important injury in the last action of the game and Fellani is suspended.”