While
Manchester City were bounced off from the Carling Cup courtesy to a resurging
Newcastle side, the red half of Manchester would have thought they stand a chance
this Sunday when the two giants of English football will meet their horns.
While Manchester City have been in a poor form lately getting 2 defeats in a
matter of 4 days, Manchester United haven’t enjoyed the best of run as the
20times Premier League winners have last tasted a victory nearly a month before
this fixture at the Etihad. So it is safe to say that, this fixture hasn’t come
at the most probable of time for both clubs.
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Here are the 5 things to be expected from the Manchester Derby which would be taking place at the Etihad on Sunday:-
Under pressure Manchester City:
While
they recognize the writing on the wall or not, the Citizens are under huge
pressure after back to back defeats against the Premier League minnows. While
defeat to a West Ham side wouldn’t have ring bells at the City boardroom
keeping in mind the purple patch the Hammers are enjoying, defeat against
Newcastle was a worrying sign for the Premier League Champions as they fielded
most of their 1st team players there.
Last
time Manchester City were handed back to back defeats in the Premier League was
four years back in 2010-11 season.
As
a result, Manuel Pellegrini will be itching to get back on the winning ways
before a crucial Champions League tie that will decide their future in Europe’s
elite competition.
Manchester United won’t be any
pushovers:
In
the last 7 fixtures between the Manchester sides, the blue half of Manchester
have put 20 goals past their rivals with a memorable 6-1 victory epitomizing
the City dominance in recent era. However, with the return of a manager that has
won things everywhere and whom has implied his philosophy, Manchester United
recent draw against Chelsea favors the fact that the 20times domestic Champions
will put off a fight against the Citizens.
Eliaquim Mangala will be under the
microscope:
So
far at the start of his City career, things haven’t been as smooth for the
former Malaga man as his price tag seems to have suggested. For Newcastle’s
first goal against the Citizens at the Etihad, Eliaquim Mangala was easily
beaten in the box before Rolando Aarons put the ball into the net. Being the
most costly defender in Manchester City history and pairing up with a City
legend like Kompany, better was expected from him and when United will come to Etihad,
the Frenchman has a case to prove.
No goals galore at the Etihad:
With
both of them being the longest serving managers of football, one more thing
that is common between both Luis Van Gaal and Manuel Pellegrini is that, both
the Dutchman and the Chilean, have enjoyed success at the best of clubs before
this assignment led them to the same City. As a result, a tactical battle will
be underway at the Etihad and with both masters of the tactical aspects of the
game, a tight encounter with less goals is expected. Therefore, for the
neutral, this game might nor serve as pleasing to the eye as ones before it.
Win
would be welcomed by both, but a defeat would be more damaging for City rather
than United!
As
Manchester United boss reiterated his desire even before the start of this
season that it will take time for United to win the league, he mentioned 3
years, so for Manchester United defeat won’t be as catastrophic if the results
from other games in England goes their way. However, for Manchester City and
Manuel Pellegrini, defeats would raise certain important eyebrows at Dubai HQ
of the bosses.
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