Manchester United vs Manchester City derby verdicts from SunSport’s Alan Shearer, Ian Wright and Danny Higginbotham
Jose Mourinho's side welcome Pep Guardiola's Premier League leaders knowing a defeat could see this season's title race slip away from them
Sponsored by
SUNSPORT columnists Alan Shearer, Ian Wright and Danny Higginbotham have their say on the biggest game of the season so far.
Sunday’s Manchester derby, which pits Jose Mourinho against Pep Guardiola, is set to be a thriller, so here are the verdicts you’ve been waiting for.
SO chaps, can Manchester United really catch City?
IAN WRIGHT: Yes they can. As much as City are doing it right now there may come a spell when they’re not. They may draw a few and United are more than good enough to beat the teams around them and catch them. As are Chelsea.
ALAN SHEARER: Hmm… I think if they lose on Sunday then no chance. Draw and an outside chance but if they were to win then it’s game on.
Not just because the gap will have been cut to five points but psychologically that seed of doubt will have been planted.
DANNY HIGGINBOTHAM: The way City are playing at the minute, United need to win at the weekend otherwise it’s all over.
Look at the first 15 games — City have dropped two points! If United lose, the title is City’s — as bizarre as it sounds this early in the season.
FRO HIM IN THERE Fellaini could be the key player in the Manchester derby
WHICH United players would get into the City side?
AS: Eric Bailly, who would strengthen City from set-pieces. Paul Pogba, who is like the Yaya Toure of five years ago — they do miss his drive in midfield.
Most Read In Sport
I believe Antonio Valencia is probably the best full-back in the league. I’d pick him ahead of Kyle Walker.
And of course, the other player is David De Gea. He is simply the best goalkeeper in the world right now and as well as Ederson has done this season, he can’t top De Gea.
IW: I’d just go for just three — Pogba, De Gea and then maybe Bailly. I like Valencia but I love Walker, so I wouldn’t want to take anyone else out of the City side.
DH: Yeah, De Gea straightaway. Pogba and Bailly, yes. I’d add Nemanja Matic. If it’s Matic or Fernandinho, I’d choose Matic — just. And I’d have Anthony Martial on the wing.
HAS Jose Mourinho been unfairly criticised this season?
DH: Yes. It’s shocking. The ‘boring’ stuff is ridiculous. Look at the table! Only City have scored more.
People say Mourinho is defensive-minded. Well, yes, they have the best defence in the league. But the rest of the top six must be more defensively-minded because they have scored fewer.
IW: He’s got to get results for United and people are criticising him for the way he plays — mainly because of how well City are playing.
But we all know how Mourinho plays, he doesn’t change. And if he doesn’t play like that and United are beaten, he’ll get slaughtered.
AS: I don’t understand why he gets stick. And I don’t suppose he cares!
A lot of it stems from United’s goalless draw at Anfield, where Liverpool have not lost at home since last April.
So I understand why he went there and set up as he did. He knows how to get results — that does not deserve criticism.
OK then, but will he ‘park the bus’ against City?
DH: I don’t like that phrase. He doesn’t ‘park the bus’. He creates opportunities on the counter-attack. It’s setting traps not parking buses.
IW: Even though they are at home, for United to try to play expansively or do anything other than defend first and then attack, it would be very stupid.
I’m not saying he’s going to park the bus but I think he will be defensively-minded at the start.
DH: No one is saying they parked the bus against Arsenal. Yet they only had 24 per cent of the ball but broke brilliantly and won 3-1.
AS: That’s the point. It doesn’t mean United will not be trying to win. Anyone who has tried to take City on has been soundly beaten, including Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea.
It was only one against Chelsea but they were outplayed.
With the absence of Pogba, Mourinho is going to have to be more cautious than he may otherwise have been.
He will stop City first and then try to get something on a break or from a set-piece. He will still aim to win the game but he won’t be throwing it away.
WILL City go unbeaten all season?
AS: No, it is too big an ask in this Premier League, which is stronger in depth than ever.
Huddersfield, Southampton and West Ham have already pushed them hard and when the Champions League kicks in, it will be even tougher. It may well end this Sunday.
DH: I agree, it will be tough. The way they are going now, though, you wouldn’t bet against it. But when the Champions League restarts, that will be the real test.
IW: Yeah, it’s going to be difficult and I don’t think anyone in the City dressing room is thinking about it. They just want to win stuff.
I heard Martin Keown mention the other day that Arsenal’s Invincibles should have won more trophies.
You don’t win anything extra by being unbeaten — you just want to make sure you collect silverware.
IS there a weakness in City that United can go for?
IW: Absolutely. Their central defence pairing — whoever is playing there.
Man Utd transfer news
AS: That stemmed from the lack of faith in the goalkeeper. But now that Ederson has replaced Claudio Bravo, that has changed.
DH: I think it’s the counter-attack. They are at their most vulnerable when they have loads of possession.
IW: Yeah, it’s that space that Walker leaves. We saw West Ham do it at times and Southampton. The problem you’ve got is trying to get the ball off them to get at them.
AS: They also showed against both Huddersfield and West Ham that they are still vulnerable at set-pieces.
WOULD you have rather played under Pep or Jose?
AS: I genuinely cannot choose. Their ‘goals for’ records throughout their coaching careers show that they both field teams that create plenty of chances for forwards.
DH: I wasn’t good enough to play under either! You have to be a special player. If I could have done, it would be either because they both bring different qualities to the game.
IW: I won’t sit on the fence! Even though I do love Mourinho, I’d rather have played under Pep.
If you are the finished article, Mourinho gets the best out of you. But if you still want to be coached and learn, then Pep’s your man.
