Manchester City have plenty to smile about, but Louis van Gaal's rejuvenated United smell blood ahead of huge derby
http://teqmag.blogspot.com/2014/11/manchester-city-have-plenty-to-smile.html
There was
a time during last year’s Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium when
it seemed as though the world might be about to fall in on David Moyes
and his United team.
Three
goals in eight minutes spanning either side of half-time left United
four adrift with 40 minutes still to play. Ultimately, the game ended
4-1, an early low in a season that was to have many.
Certainly
it appeared last season that the balance of power in Manchester had
tilted City’s way and pretty much stayed there. The gap was big and
looked set to get bigger.
Sergio Aguero celebrates scoring for Manchester City as they thumped United at the Etihad last season
Manchester City supporters unfurled a banner about the under-fire David Moyes during last year's derby
United boss Louis van Gaal was all smiles during the session as he embarks on his first Manchester derby
Juan Mata, Michael Carrick, Wayne Rooney, Ander Herrera and Robin van Persie (left to right) train
Radamel Falcao misses out again having been sidelined for the draw with Chelsea at the Etihad on Sunday
Fast
forward 13 months from that day in M11 and City have much to be pleased
about. They have two trophies — one of them the Barclays Premier League
— and a new training ground standing in the shadow of a stadium that is
undergoing expansion.
Oddly,
though, United and their new coach Louis van Gaal will travel from
their base at the Lowry Hotel on Sunday morning sensing an opportunity
of sorts. There is no swagger about City at the moment, no joy. Their
coach Manuel Pellegrini looks like a man with a permanent migraine, and
his players look leggy and fretful yet it is only November.
City
start as favourites. They are the champions, they are at home and they
have match-winners in their team. United, though, can see chinks of
light through the City barricades and perhaps sense it’s time to remind
their upstart neighbours that this remains a two-club town.
‘In
a tactical way I know what we have to expect,’ said Van Gaal. ‘It is
not the greatest moment of Manchester City, and I have said that we are
growing and developing ourselves. We have a good feeling about this
match.’
If
City’s problem is that they have appeared a little flat during a
three-game winless run, Van Gaal fears his team may suffer from an
excess of energy. Robin van Persie’s late equaliser at home to Chelsea
last Sunday felt like a significant one in the context of United’s
season and Van Gaal expressed concern that it may have set adrenaline
levels running a little too high.
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has watched his side really struggle in recent weeks
Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney has been suspended since his red card against West Ham
‘For
the fans it is unbelievably big as a rivalry and I have felt that also
with a lot of the players in the squad this week,’ he said. ‘Especially
with Ryan Giggs because when he presented the analysis of Manchester
City, I felt more tension with him. It was good to see that.
‘He
knows it, he has the experience as a player and now maybe as an
assistant manager. But we don’t have to accelerate this feeling because
it is football and you have to play the game, not only a game with
emotion but also in a tactical way. That is what we are doing, that is
how we are preparing.
‘Ryan has transferred the idea of emotion and I have transferred the idea of how we have to play.’
Certainly
it’s hard to imagine anyone ever accusing Pellegrini of being
emotional. On Friday, the City manager was as reluctant to add to the
hyperbole that usually precedes a Manchester derby.
Van Gaal admitted to having been impressed by Ryan Giggs' intense presentation on Manchester City
Spanish playmaker David Silva will miss the derby after coming off injured against Newcastle United
Yaya Toure faces a fitness test on Saturday to determine whether he'll face Van Gaal's United the day after
That,
of course, is the Chilean’s prerogative. It is not his responsibility
to add to the sideshow, only to find a way to improve upon recent
performances.
With
David Silva absent and Yaya Toure facing a fitness test on Saturday,
Pellegrini certainly has his work cut out. City were wretched against
Newcastle in the Capital One Cup on Wednesday and, in truth, it was a
performance that had been coming.
‘I
don’t know what pressure is,’ insisted Pellegrini. ‘I think it’s very
difficult to analyse the season at this moment when you are only in
October and you have only played nine games in the Premier League. I
think always you have better moments and bad moments in the season.
‘If
you review last year (and compare it with) what we are doing at this
moment, I think we were not playing better than today and the criticisms
were exactly the same as they are today... it’s not good to do it but
normally all the teams have the moment in the season when you are not in
your best moment.
Carrick (front) is in contention to play his first game of the season for United after an ankle injury
Angel di Maria appeared in a relaxed mood during Manchester United's training session on Friday
Marcos Rojo (left) and Antonio Valencia could be two of many South Americans involved at the Etihad
The return of Rooney (left) to the line-up is likely to mean Mata (right) will be dropped to the bench against City
Marouane Fellaini has had a resurgence in recent weeks, and could start against City on Sunday
‘It
is important for it to be at the beginning of the season and not at the
end of the season. I’m sure our team will be a strong team again.’
Van
Gaal was not present when City lost on Wednesday. He sent assistant
Marcel Bout to the Etihad instead. Their preparations for this game
began in earnest early last week, though, when Van Gaal called Wayne
Rooney, his captain, back to the training ground unexpectedly one
afternoon.
‘I
have heard that he has scored a lot of goals against Manchester City,
the most of any player,’ said Van Gaal. ‘I said that to him to stimulate
him but he doesn’t need that. I am very happy that he can play again
and he shall play.’
Rooney
was the only United player who performed at the Etihad last season. He
will need some help on Sunday. If he gets it, then United — the
underdogs — have a chance.
United attempt to regroup at the Etihad during last year's 4-1 defeat by their cross-city rivals
Toure was on song as United were beaten 3-0 by City towards the end of last season
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