Today, fierce rivals Manchester United and Manchester City will be battling it out for 3 points at the Etihad Stadium. This Manchester derby sees the defending Premier League champions host 4th place in the PL table. United will hope to steal back a positive result from City, as the first derby this season saw City take away 3 points with a 2-0 victory at Old Trafford.
City’s Derby Form
Out of the last eleven games the teams have played each other, City have won five of them and United have won four. City are enjoying the view from the top of the table with Pep Guardiola as their manager. Since Sir Alex Ferguson left Manchester United, the “noisy neighbours” have finished on average 20.75 points clear of the Red Devils each season since.
This is an important game for United as they need to secure enough points to stay in 4th place and qualify for next season’s Champions League. City view this derby as a must win as well… They are only 3 points clear of Carabao Cup winners Liverpool.
United for the Win?
Ex-City defender Micah Richards made an interesting comment about today’s match saying, “United, who City host on Sunday, have great players and are more than capable of winning the Manchester derby. Yet they have not looked like winning a title in recent times. City and Liverpool have raised the standards so much that only faultless football is good enough.”
Cristiano Ronaldo has been ruled out of today’s match day squad for the Manchester Derby due to injury. Although Ronaldo is United’s top goal scorer this season, it is no secret he is struggling with goals in 2022, having only scored once this calendar year against Brighton. Edinson Cavani is ruled out of United’s squad as well leaving Cristiano Ronaldo has been ruled out of today’s match day squad for the Manchester Derby due to injury. Although Ronaldo is United’s top goal scorer this season, it is no secret he is struggling with goals in 2022, having only scored once this calendar year against Brighton. Edinson Cavani is ruled out of United’s squad as well leaving Marcus Rashford as the only available centre-forward.
When asked about Ronaldo’s lack of goals this calendar year, Rangnick said, “[Ronaldo] should score more goals. It is not only an issue with Cristiano, it’s also an issue with all the other players”.
Will the 100 Million man finally play a Derby?
Guardiola encourages City’s Jack Grealish to not be a “stupid man” ahead of the United clash. The 26-year-old has lately been living up to his full potential and is desperate to win today’s points against United. The £100 million signing is hoping to be on the pitch for his first Manchester Derby with City.
Grealish said, “It is a massive game. It is a game we are going to go into with full confidence and it is a game that we need to win. It is going to be a good one. It is my first Manchester derby at the Etihad so I cannot wait. I am looking forward to it.”
This will be Rangnick’s first Derby as United manager after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was in the hotspot back in November when City took the win.
