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Fresh off the back of winning the Barclays Premier League Manager of the Month award for September, Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag takes his team to the Etihad Stadium for his first ever Manchester derby this afternoon.
Manchester City started the gameweek in second place, just one point behind league leaders Arsenal, but following the Gunners victory yesterday Pep Guardiola’s men will need to pick up three points just to maintain the pace with the London club. Luckily for City fans, Guardiola’s men are unbeaten in the league so far this term and most recently swept past Wolves with a 3-0 away win just before the international break putting them in fine touch for a Manchester derby.
Meanwhile, Ten Hag’s award win gives you an indication of how he’s managed to turnaround Manchester United’s own form. The Red Devils have won their last four league games in a row including a victory over Liverpool and beating Arsenal 3-1 in their last domestic outing. Yet City away is always a tricky affair and it will be the Dutchman’s finest victory so far if he can help United can pull it off.
Follow all the action from the Manchester derby:
Man City vs Man Utd
This is going to a cracker. Man Utd have started games slowly this years and tend to concede during the first 45 minutes. If they can keep City out and maybe nick a goal before the break they’ll be well set to push for victory.
On the other hand City will look to dominate throughout and need to be wary of United’s counter-attack.
Ten Hag on handling Haaland
Erik ten Hag says that Manchester City face more threats than just Erling Haaland who has scored 14 goals in 10 games for City this season.
“I like his attitude, how he is on the pitch. He’s direct, his life is about goals - he goes direct toward the opponent,” said Ten Hag.
“I respect him but we are not playing against Haaland, we are playing against Manchester City. And it is not about Manchester City for us. We respect the opponent but it is about Manchester United.”
Man City vs Man Utd
Pep Guardiola has lost three out of four Premier League games against the Red Devils at the Etihad Stadium. They are the only opponent against whom he has lost more than two top-flight home matches as a manager.
(Manchester City FC via Getty Ima)
Landmarks for Eriksen and Dias
Christian Eriksen is set to make his 400th career league appearance today as he starts for Manchester United with Ruben Dias one short of 100 City appearances.
He will reach the landmark should he come on as a substitute.
Pre-match thoughts of Erik ten Hag
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag to spoke to Sky Sports before kick off saying: “It is about us and developing our game. We need to win, we need a result, that will bring confidence.
“We want to play our game but I know they want to dictate the game and are good at that. We will see it is about the battle on the field.
“[Marcus Rashford] trained well and returned to team training. I think we took the right steps and he is fit. They will miss [Rodri] but they still have a very good XI on the pitch. We will have to deal with it.
“We have to play our best. When we follow the rules, the principles, then we have a chance to win this game. Details will make the difference.”
De Bruyne on fire
This season Kevin de Bruyne has registered six assists and 25 chances created, both league highs. He has been directly involved in 30 goals in his last 30 Premier League starts, scoring 16 and assisting 14.
(Manchester City FC via Getty Ima)
Ronaldo chasing down 700 career club goals
Cristiano Ronaldo can make five consecutive league appearances as a substitute for the first time since 2003, during his breakthrough season at Sporting Lisbon.
The forward has 699 career club goals in all competitions, including 497 in the league, and has registered four goals and two red cards in 12 competitive Manchester derbies.
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City’s key man?
Erling Haaland has netted 100 goals in 99 club appearances in all competitions, including 12 goals in seven games for City. He has scored from each of his last six Premier League shots on target at the Etihad.
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Rodri injured in training says Guardiola
Pep Guardiola spoke to Sky Sports in the build-up to kick off explained why Rodri is absent from today’s matchday squad saying:
“It is an injury. Yesterday in the training session he felt something. It was a little more than a niggle in his leg so we did not want to take the risk.
“It is an important role but one of the success the biggest clubs have is that excuses don’t exist. Nobody is second in the locker room.”
Can Ten Hag start with a win?
This will be Erik ten Hag’s first Manchester derby - each of the five United’s previous five managers have lost their opening league fixture against City, with Alex Ferguson the last to begin with a win in 1987.
Ten Hag won eight of his nine league and cup matches as Ajax manager against historic rivals Feyenoord - a match known as De Klassieker in the Netherlands.
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