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Manchester City and Manchester United clash tomorrow in what is undoubtedly the biggest match of the weekend.
Historically, the red side of Manchester had been the more dominant of the pair, and had a distinct advantage in this fixture, but tides have turned in recent years since the mega money takeover of City by the Sheikh in 2008, and The Red Devils now find themselves playing catch up.
As with any other derby, more than just points are at stake, as pride and city bragging rights are up for grabs, and even though the result would not have an overbearing influence on the title race as Guardiola opined due to the differing positions of both teams on the EPL table, that does not take anything away from the intensity expected in the match.
Manchester City’s status as defending champions and table toppers sees them installed as heavy favorites, and despite Manchester United’s illustrious history, their shaky form this season and inconsistencies under Mourinho means that not many people would give them a chance.
However, The Red Devils have what it takes to cause a genuine shock at the Etihad. We present three reasons which could see Manchester United triumph over Manchester City.
#3 They have not lost under Mourinho at the Etihad
To say that Manchester City have been utterly dominant in the two and half years since Guardiola took over would be merely stating the obvious, as the Cityzens have decimated the Premier League landscape in a manner arguably not ever seen before, and won the title last season at a canter, breaking a host of records en-route the triumph.
Beyond their visible aesthetic football also lies the lesser known fact that The Etihad has been turned into a form of a fortress under the Catalan.
Since losing to Chelsea in November 2016 (Guardiola’s first season in charge), City have lost just once at home, and drawn just six (only one draw this year) out of 37 Premier League matches played at the Etihad.
They have scored 110 goals, and had an admirable record of 14 consecutive wins at home last season, with high scoring victories such as a 7-2 win over Stoke City last season and the 6-1 victory over Southampton last weekend serving as illustrations of City’s utter dominance at home.
Out of six home games this season, they have allowed just 57 shots against them (13 on target), while conceding just three goals.
All these help highlight that The Etihad has become an undoubted fortress in the Premier League, and most teams travel there with the game already lost in their minds much like it was at Old Trafford in the not too distant past, but one team that has defied the logic at the Etihad has been Manchester United.
Manchester City has lost just one home league match in the last 23 months, and that defeat came at the hands of Manchester United, as Pogba and co rallied from two goals down to defeat their city rivals 3-2 in a match which would have granted City the Premier League title had they won.
That victory came after a 0-0 stalemate on their previous visit to the Etihad, so in essence Mourinho’s men are the only team not to have been defeated at the Etihad across the two seasons that Guardiola has been in charge, and this could be a driving force to propel United to victory on Sunday.
#2 They have built momentum in recent weeks
Only a few weeks ago, things were so turbulent at United that there were serious speculations linking Mourinho with a sack from his role in the Old Trafford dugout.
Confirmed rumors of infighting between player and coach, disorientation among fans over the direction the club was headed in and transfer shenanigans which ensured the club did not get most of its summer targets translated into disaster on the field, as Manchester United players could not buy a win.
Key players such as Pogba, Bailly, Sanchez and Martial were grossly underperforming, while even Mr ever-reliable David De Gea made a couple of uncharacteristic blips, which meant United made their worst start ever to a Premier League season, and they quickly found themselves ruled out of the title race.
Things have however improved in recent weeks, as Jose Mourinho has helped calm the storm, coming within few seconds of defeating Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, and following that up with three consecutive victories in all competitions, including two successive injury-time comeback victories over Bournemouth and the more fancied Juventus.
Manchester City have been so dominant for so long that it is easy to take their greatness for granted and for complacency to set in, but the momentum built by United in recent weeks is one which could see them cross the line in this immense battle against their city rivals.
#1 They arguably need the points more
Manchester City sit top of the Premier League table with 29 points from 11 matches, two points clear of their nearest challengers.
The Cityzens are undefeated in the Premier League this season, and look primed to retain the title they won so convincingly last term.
Manchester United, on the other hand, find themselves languishing in 8th place, with 20 points and are closer to the likes of Everton, Watford and Bournemouth than they are to Tottenham and Arsenal in the race for a top four and Champions League spot finish.
Manchester United’s history and caliber of players means that anything outside of a top-four finish this season would be classified as a monumental failure, hence the players would be determined to start picking up points to continue their ascent on the league table, and move themselves closer to the top spots.
Manchester United can ill afford to lose this match, as any more dropped points would mean losing further touch from the top four spots, unlike Manchester City who arguably do not need the points as badly as their red neighbors, and it is this drive to accrue more points which could see them pip Manchester City on the day.
