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Manchester City ready for United to try to 'close the gap' in the Premier League | football news


WHO: Manchester City vs Manchester United
That: First division football
When: Sunday March 3, 2024, 15:30 GMT
Where: Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says the Premier League champions are ready for rivals Manchester United to try to “close the gap” ahead of Sunday's derby at the Etihad Stadium.

City are just one point behind league leaders Liverpool, who travel to Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

United are eight points behind Aston Villa in fourth place, the fourth Champions League qualifying spot.

Old Trafford's new minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe set out his plans to return the 20-time English champions to the top when he completed the acquisition of 27 per cent of the club's shares this month, including restoring the pecking order at city.

Ahead of Sunday's game, Guardiola admits the recent change at United is likely to change things.

“Sir Jim and others know the club's diagnosis. If Sir Jim said they needed two or three years to be there, who am I to say otherwise? the manager said.

“I'm sure they will work to close the gap.”

City, winner of last season's treble, also added the European Super Cup and the Club World Cup to its record at the end of 2023.

Guardiola says he knows this era of dominance in the blue side of Manchester will end eventually, but he is determined it won't be anytime soon.

“In the 80s it was Liverpool, in the 90s it was United. Now we have been winning seven Premier League titles for so many years in the last 11, 12 years,” he said.

“It has happened, but in 50 or 60 years, there has never been in a country a club that dominates and controls everything, so we can try to extend for as many years as possible what we are trying to do.”

United's battle in the Premier for a place in the Champions League

Although they are not reveling in the top table, United have their own battles to fight and Champions League qualification is high on their agenda. A home defeat to Fulham last weekend ended a seven-game unbeaten run, but United manager Erik ten Hag remains in a defiant mood.

“We are also on a good streak. The mood is very good,” she stated.

“We have done it before against City, also against Liverpool. We will prepare well. The players are looking forward to it. I can smell it. I'm excited.”

City defeated United in the FA Cup final last season on their way to emulating the domestic treble that only their rivals, in 1999, had previously achieved.

This match last season resulted in a humiliating 6-3 defeat, although United won at Old Trafford. However, that was not the case this season as City claimed a 3-0 win in the first leg in October.

“We need a big day,” ten Hag admitted. “We like the challenge and we are looking forward to the challenge with them. We know that we have to give everything and show the team's performance if we want to achieve the result. But if you do it, it is possible.”

After the United game, City face a tough run of games against title rivals Liverpool and Arsenal in the league, plus the Champions League last-16 match against Copenhagen on Wednesday.

“I prefer that to the opposite,” Guardiola said of the challenge he faces in all competitions. “Key players, we have 20 key players. We've had key players injured and we've still done well.

“It is very pleasant to play the games. They are the best. A chance to reach the Champions League quarter-finals, then at Anfield, a chance against Newcastle United [in the FA Cup] – We work to get here and live these moments.”

forms guide

Manchester City's season has picked up pace since their Club World Cup triumph in December. Pep Guardiola's team has won 14 of its last 15 games and is unbeaten in its last 18 games.

United were on a seven-match unbeaten run until Fulham's surprise victory at Old Trafford in the Premier League last weekend. Erik ten Hag's side returned to winning ways in the FA Cup in midweek by beating Nottingham Forest 1-0.

Head to head

The Manchester rivals first met in England's old Division Two in November 1894. United won 5-2 at City before sealing the double over their neighbors with a 4-1 victory in the second leg in January 1985.

There have been 190 matches in total and United have won 77 to City's 60.

team news

Manchester City will be without Jack Grealish, who injured his groin in the FA Cup match at Luton on Tuesday.

Defender Josko Gvardiol is close to returning from an ankle injury, but the derby is likely too soon.

Manchester City planned lineup: Ederson; Kyle Walker, Josh Stones, Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake; Rodri; Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva, Julián Álvarez, Jeremy Doku; Erling Haaland

Manchester United's main casualties are defender Luke Shaw and forward Rasmus Hojlund. Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martínez and Aaron Wan-Bissaka are also absent from the backline.

Manchester United planned lineup: André Onana; Diogo Dalot, Raphaël Varane, Jonny Evans, Victor Lindelof; Kobbie Mainoo, Casemiro; Christian Eriksen, Bruno Fernandes, Alejandro Garnacho, Marcus Rashford



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