The Manchester Derby, winner takes all as Man city and Man united seeks to stay afloat in the title race and champions league qualification spot.
Manchester city take on Manchester united in a crunch tie on Sunday at the Ethihad stadium with both sides in desperate need of three point.
The red devils have beaten the citizens on their three last visits to the Etihad, the lastest coming in March of 2021 Manchester united winning two nill. But with pep Guardiola city is challenging for the title leading their closest rivals Liverpool with six points and having placed a game more.
Manchester United in the fourth position will seek to consolidate on the fourth spot ask the chasing pack of Arsenal, west ham keep the pressure on the likes of Wolverhampton Wanderers and Antonio Conte’s Tottenham can not be ruled out as they seek a return to the champions league.
The Red Devils have drawn 6 times and registered as many wins. The Manchester derby comes at a crucial juncture for both clubs. City have allowed Liverpool to cover ground in recent weeks, and hold just a six-point lead having played an additional game. United similarly, are in serious danger of dropping out of the top 4, with West Ham, Arsenal and Tottenham snapping at their heels.
A mere 5.6 miles separates Manchester City from Manchester United as a local, yet fierce, rivalry continues to exist between the two in their efforts to be recognised as the number one club.But in terms of trophy and dominance, Manchester city is miles apart, with the city boasting a total of 28 trophies in the last ten year and seven domestic trophies in that time.
in contrast Man United haven’t won any major trophy in the last ten years coming close during Jose’s Mourinho tenure, Despite enduring a mixed relationship with the United fan base, Jose Mourinho was the last manager to win a trophy with the Red Devils, after clinching the EFL Cup and the Europa League back in 2016/17. Swedish icon Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice in the EFL Cup final, to seal a 3-2 win over Southampton at Wembley.
Nonetheless, they have not been as prolific in terms of silverware in the last 10 years. To date, they’ve won one Europa League (2016/17), three Premier League titles (2010/11, 2012/13), one FA Cup (2015/16), and had three League Cup (2010, 2017) successes over the last decade compared to their Noisy neighbours who have swept most of the domestic trophy since Pep Guardiola took over Manchester city in the 2016/2017 season.
This would be the first meeting between pep Guardiola and Ralf Rangnick, The city boss knows the threat united pose under the German tactician and warns his side to be wary of the red devils
“with united,you see the players up front,in the middle with players like Paul Pogba,( Nemanja) Matic and Fred and the speed they have on the sides”, said Guardiola “The central defenders Raphael Varane, Garry Maguire and Victor Lindelof they have experience.
So all if they have, I see this. I don’t see 19 points lead, or whatever we have, I don’t see points and I don’t care. I Know we can win or lose and we will work today on the way to beat them.
Pep Guardiola and Ralf Rangnick are both revolutionary and influential managers. Both have distinct styles of coaching and the same translates into their team’s style of play.
Both sides have players that can take the game by the scruff of the neck and change the game, players like Bruno Fernandes who has created the most chances this season in the premier league and also his Portuguese compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo who’s a five-time Balloon d’ Or winner can cause city a lot of trouble
Manchester City would have experienced centre back Ruben Dias out of this one as he has a muscular injury which would keep him out of action for three to four weeks. But the citizens should have enough to see out this united side that hasn’t been consistent under Ralf Rangnick.
Both sides would need the win as it would be a point of reference for both sides if they (Manchester City) fail to win the league and allow Liverpool to go on and clinch the trophy and united failing to qualify for the champions league. it’s an important three-pointer and a Derby bragging right for the team who leaves the stadium with all three-point.
