3 reasons why you should watch Manchester United-Manchester City
On Sunday, Manchester United will play Manchester City in the storied Manchester derby, and for the first time in quite a while, Manchester United won’t be heading into a big game in the midst of a crisis.
On the back of somehow eeking out a 1-1 draw against Chelsea last week, United is actually in decent shape. Manchester City, on the other hand, is in pretty bad shape. They’re six points back from league-leaders Chelsea, and they’ve had three straight appalling performances: a 2-2 draw against CSKA Moscow in the Champions League, a 1-2 loss away at West Ham last weekend, and a mid-week loss at home to a weakened Newcastle side in the League Cup, which was one of the competitions City won last year.
In any case, this derby is going to be huge for both sides, and it’s a must-watch game for anyone that has even a marginal interest in soccer. Here are three reasons why. the reasons are Wayne Rooney is back, Manchester City could actually lose, and Rojo vs Aguero
Graphic showing how Manchester United vs Manchester City and how they measure up.
Manchester City v Manchester United: Fighting talk masks derby worries for Louis van Gaal
Louis van Gaal was adamant. When asked if Manchester United can still be classed as a bigger club than their cross-town rivals, the Dutchman smiled and replied simply in two words: “Of course.”
He evidently considered the question ridiculous. For United’s supporters this was precisely what they wanted to hear from their manager ahead of the Manchester derby. This time last season, David Moyes had infuriated many a Red with his suggestion that City were a club to which United aspired. Now here was Van Gaal echoing what Sir Alex Ferguson had said immediately after City had won the title in 2012, when he insisted it would take a century for them to catch up. Fighting talk, not surrender: this is what fans rally behind.
And how United followers need such a public reminder of their status locally. The evidence is everywhere of the speed with which City have closed the gap on their once invincible rivals since their takeover by the Abu Dhabi royal family. It is there physically around the stadium, where the magnificent new Etihad Campus has utterly transformed a whole quarter of the city, world class facilities blooming out of the industrial dereliction. It is there in the fan club banners from Indonesia City Supporters, Dallas Blue Moon and Redondo Beach Blues wrapped around one of the towers at the Etihad, demonstrating City’s gathering prominence in the world game.
more here, comparisons, statistics, etc
Louis van Gaal orders pampered Manchester United stars to re-engage with fans
The former Holland chief doesn't want the image that his players are egotistical and has them signing autographs for eager supporters.Louis van Gaal has declared war on Manchester United’s over-pampered stars, writes Steve Bates in the Sunday People.
The hard-line Dutchman believes his players are out of touch with fans and has told them to re-engage with the people who help pay their wages, Sunday People Sport can reveal.
The Red Devils have been able to distance themselves from fans after home games by having security men drive their flash cars right up to the dressing-room door.
But LVG wants to puncture inflated egos by making star names like Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie walk to the car park, allowing fans to ask the stars for their autographs.
The United boss is also making his first-team squad train 24 hours ahead of matches at the exact time they take the pitch the following day. story here
Sergio Aguero and Marcos Rojo embroiled in girlfriend row on eve of Manchester derby
The pair have been on unsavoury terms since Rojo invited the ex-husband of Aguero's girlfriend into the Argentina dressing room during the World Cup. A bitter feud between Sergio Aguero and Marcos Rojo has erupted again on the eve of the Manchester derby.
The Argentina stars come face to face at the Etihad with not only three points at stake but an old score to settle.
The row, involving Aguero’s girlfriend, was the reason the in-form City striker pulled out of a kids’ coaching session alongside United defender Rojo on Friday in the East Manchester district of Ardwick as part of the Premier League Kicks initiative.
City officials were left red-faced when Aguero refused to attend at the last minute claiming he had to pick up family members from the airport.
“Where is Sergio? asked Rojo, before adding: “Perhaps he is a little scared.”
The pair became embroiled in a blazing row during the World Cup when Rojo invited the ex-husband of Aguero’s girlfriend, Karina Tejeda, into Argentina’s dressing room to celebrate the win over Nigeria.
Aguero started dating Karina after his marriage to Diego Maradona’s daughter, Giannina, broke down two years ago.
But he flew into a rage with Rojo when his girlfriend’s former husband - another Argentine pop star called Ezequiel “el Polaco” Cwirkaluk - appeared in the dressing room after the victory in Port Alegre.
Aguero had to be dragged away from Cwirkaluk by team-mates before angrily squaring up to Rojo.
read more here
Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart backs manager Manuel Pellegrini as champions regroup for derby showdown
Joe Hart, the Manchester City keeper, insists there is no need to panic about his side’s slump in form while striker Stevan Jovetic says they will show their “real face” against Manchester United in Sunday’s derby.
The 2-0 Capital One Cup defeat by Newcastle in midweek and an injury to David Silva are hardly the ideal preparation for the meeting with Louis van Gaal’s new-look side, and those setbacks follow a 2-2 draw against CSKA Moscow in Russia before a 2-1 loss to West Ham in London.
But the mood from the City camp on Wednesday was one of defiance.
“I think we’ve set up a good basis but in the last two or three games we’ve stumbled a bit,” Hart said on Sky Sports. “Looking back, the Moscow second half was really disappointing for us. West Ham was a hard game, a really hard game and people are going to struggle there. We know we can do better, we know we can do a lot better. read more here
derby day promises to be spirited
I'm impressed with Blind, I can see why van Gaal roped him in as soon as he could
David de Gea's form has really impressed. He's grown leaps and bounds. The Spanish NT is really lucky
Hugs time não?
Marcos Rojo's transformation into a Red Devil
The question will be answered today
NGL, this is the best man u kit for me. I like it all. Red shirt, white shorts, black socks
David de Gea, fighting fit. He kills his dinner with karate
Luke Shaw lost weight, got fit, and is slowly working his way into van Gaal's good graces
Kompany is happy for the Derby. Truly.
Well, well, look who made the cover!
Aguero looking pensive. The derby starts in less than five hours. City isn't in the best of shape right now. But form dips, class doesn't, eh?
Sergio Aguero and his brother from another mother. Hmm, he looks familiar, no?
Navas gets better looking as he gets older. How does he do that?
Social Media
David de Gea gets it. NGL, the Spanish players in the PL impress me
Manchester United's spooooky starting XI
Gossip From The Sidelines
Steven Gerrard might be out of contract at Liverpool in six months, but he isn't short of job offers! Corr Blimey! Manchester City are keen to have a shot at him.
Jose Mourinho says that Chelsea fans are frustrating because they don't bring the noise!.
But that's what happens when your supporters are the prawn sandwich brigade, Jose
Pardew is riding high, NGL. Newcastle supporters must be buzzing He'll be having that!
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain reveals Per Mertesacker's role as debt collector at ArsenalThe midfielder says being late to training or using your mobile phone in the dressing room will lead to a financial sanction
Ugh, yesterday was a terrible day for me. All FOUR teams I support lost. Lost. I ma crushed.