On Saturday night, current English Premier League champions, Manchester City will face Manchester United for the first time this season.
This comes amidst a slip in form for Man City who have been conceding too much goals after the retirement of Vincent Kompany last season and the injury of defender Aymeric Laporte, leaving the defence light on options.
Manchester United meanwhile are coming from a morale boosting win against Tottenham Hotspur in midweek.
Should Manchester United be underrated?, Can they pull an upset in tonight’s match? Or will Man City, coached by one of the world’s best coaching minds, Pep Guardiola, give their old rivals the beating of their lives. Both sides face contrasting futures in Europe as Man City has qualified for the knock out stages of the Champions League while Man United have qualified for the knock out stages of the Europa league.
In this match with a lot to gain and a lot to lose for both sides, the Jury is out. LIB presents to you the preview of the Manchester derby.
Head to Head history
Man City vs Man U - Games won against Man U.: 53
Man City vs Man U -Games drawn with Man U: 52
Man City vs Man U - Games lost to Man U: 73
Man City beat Man United 2-0 the last time they met in April.
Tactical tweaks/formations
Pep Guardiola wouldn’t change his much favoured 4-3-3 system for Manchester United, he knows doing that will affect his team’s way of playing. Ole, meanwhile might revert to 3-5-2 just like he did against Tottenham and rely on wing football to take pre-eminence in this clash.
Man City’s midfield trio of Bernardo, De Bruyne will be essential in fast forward thinking if they want to feed Sterling and Aguero because McTominay and Fred will be ordered to close down the spaces in midfield like they did against Tottenham. With Pogba unavailable through injury, less ball will be wasted in midfield which could play into Manchester United’s hands especially when counter attacking.
Pep Guadiola vs Ole Gunnaer Solksjaer
Solksjaer has been waxing lyrical ahead of this weekend’s match, and in his Friday press conference claimed the club is bigger than Manchester City but that he hopes to close the gap between his club and their rivals.
On Friday, Solskjaer said in his pre-match press conference: “It took many years before I played a Manchester derby myself,” indicating that Manchester United had been a top-level team several years before City became one too.
And later, Guardiola replied: “Listen, for United’s fans, they’ll always be the biggest club. For the City fans, they’ll always be the biggest club. We love our clubs.”
“Each fan loves their clubs and that’s why they support them. It doesn’t matter if you have a lot of success in the past, it’s part of what they feel.”
“Normally, supporters want to see their teams win and win and win. But they support them even in bad circumstances.”
“I learnt about Manchester City’s history and in the bad, bad moments, the support was almost higher or louder than, for example, now.”
“So if you’re looking at the trophy cabinet, they are better, no doubts about that. Numbers are numbers and in that situation, they’ve lifted more titles than us,” Guardiola further explained, before concluding:
“But we’re trying to be there for as long as possible and for City fans, Manchester City will always be better. Like United fans believe they are better.”
Star men to watch out for
Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling and Marcus Rashford should all be looked at. With just one turn, shot or sleek movement this men can make the game change in a split second.
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