Manchester Derby: 3 Key Battles in United vs. City Clash

Last year’s drab 0-0 draw between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford seems a world away. Both clubs have been completely re-energised by inspired managerial appointments and go into the first derby of the season on Saturday with nine points from a possible nine.

The focus and attention on this fixture has never been so extreme. Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola renewing their rivalry has given the occasion added spice, and Manchester is now at the centre of the football world.

This game arrives too early to have too much bearing on the Premier League title race, which both of these sides are expected to contest—but there is a significant psychological advantage to be gained for the winner. Neither side will want to relinquish their 100 per cent start to the new season, and the two managers—both obsessive in their search for success—will be desperate to come out on top.

United, perhaps, are under more pressure given they are at home, but the stakes are high for both sides.

A number of key battles will determine the outcome. Here we take a look at the areas where the game could be won or lost.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic vs. John Stones

United have lacked many things over the past three years—the most barren period in the club’s recent history—but belief and arrogance were perhaps the most obvious.

Under Sir Alex Ferguson, United oozed confidence. Sides visiting Old Trafford were often beaten before they left the tunnel. The fans, the players, the management staff—everyone connected to the club exuded self-assurance after years of habitual success.

That rapidly receded in the three years after Ferguson, and United desperately needed to rediscover their assuredness. No signing in world football ticks that box as affirmatively as Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

He may be 34, but the Swede is a wonderful professional who remains in fantastic shape. He’s scored four goals already in his short United career—but more importantly he’s brought belief to the training ground. He’s leading the line with aplomb and leading by example on and off the field.

Few players in world football can match Ibrahimovic’s cockiness, which is exactly what United needed.

He brings physical presence and goals. Aerially he‘s superb, but he’s even better with his feet. Keeping him quiet is going to be absolutely key.

To add to the danger, Ibrahimovic is one of the few players to have worked under Guardiola who dislikes the Catalan. The City manager took the forward to Barcelona, but the pair failed to get on and their relationship deteriorated badly.

“As a coach he was fantastic. As a person I’ve no comments about that, that’s something else,” Ibrahimovic told CNN last …

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