Premier League 2018-19: 5 Key battles that could decide the Manchester Derby

#1 Paul Pogba vs Fernandinho

Pogba's role in the midfield would be very crucial.

Paul Pogba is one of the most crucial players for Jose Mourinho's side this season. He can pick a long range pass and even shoot from outside the box. Apart from Martial, the Frenchman is the in-form player at the moment and would want to impose himself in the Derby as well.

The last season game was the highlight of Paul's career at United. Manchester City were leading and cruising towards the Premier League title, in came United lead by Pogba to turn the match around. That was the last defeat for Manchester City at the Etihad stadium till now.

However, Pogba would be up against a player who according to Guardiola is the fulcrum of the team and can play in any role in a football pitch. Fernandinho can break any attack from the opponent and even find long-range shots to score. It remains to see who will win the battle between the midfield and has the last laugh in the derby.

About the author

A sports enthusiast and an avid follower of football.

Since childhood I was encouraged to play cricket and in no time it became a hobby. Gradually I found interest in other sports also.

Football is in my blood and I love the electrifying ambiance that surrounds it. I often watch the pre and post match analysis of a match and try to learn how to analyze a football game.

The thing that intrigues me the most is that there are so many things happening behind the scenes that are oblivious to our naked eyes. The technological advancements that has been made are phenomenal.

I like analyzing a game from a statistical point of view. Being a data guy myself , I am firm believer of providing insights through facts and data. Though a game is always unpredictable , analyzing it from different dimensions can provide some very interesting conclusions.

Know More

Edited by Abhinav Munshi