Who: Manchester Metropolis vs Manchester United
What: Premier League soccer
When: Sunday, March 3, 2024, 15:30 GMT
The place: Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England
Manchester Metropolis supervisor Pep Guardiola says the Premier League champions are prepared for rivals Manchester United to attempt to “shut the hole” forward of Sunday’s derby match on the Etihad Stadium.
Metropolis are only one level behind league leaders Liverpool, who journey to Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
United are eight factors off Aston Villa in fourth spot, the fourth Champions League qualification spot.
New minority proprietor at Previous Trafford, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, laid out his plans to return the 20-time English champions to the summit when he accomplished his acquisition of 27 p.c of the membership’s shares this month, together with re-establishing the pecking order within the metropolis.
Forward of Sunday’s match, Guardiola admits the current change at United is prone to change issues.
“Sir Jim and others know the prognosis of the membership. If Sir Jim mentioned they want two or three years to be there, who am I to say the alternative?” the supervisor mentioned.
“I’m positive they are going to work to shut the hole.”
🔴👔 Mikel Arteta
🔵👔 Pep Guardiola
👹👔 Erik ten HagJust one can win February’s @BarclaysFooty Supervisor of the Month award! #PLAwards | Vote 👉 https://t.co/ynFTphsa0X pic.twitter.com/W3cnwW7Jzx
— Premier League (@premierleague) February 29, 2024
Final season’s treble winners, Metropolis additionally added the European Tremendous Cup and Membership World Cup to their haul by the tip of 2023.
Guardiola says he is aware of this period of dominance on the blue aspect of Manchester will finish ultimately, however he’s decided it received’t be anytime quickly.
“Within the ’80s it was Liverpool, the ’90s, it was United – now we’re this a few years, successful seven Premier League titles within the final 11, 12 years,” he mentioned.
“It has occurred, however in 50 or 60 years, there has by no means in a single nation been a membership that dominates and controls the whole lot, so we will attempt to prolong for as a few years as potential what we are attempting to do.”
United’s Premier battle for a Champions League spot
Though not feasting on the prime desk, United have their very own battles to battle and Champions League qualification is prime of their agenda. A house defeat by Fulham final weekend ended a seven-game unbeaten run, however United supervisor Erik ten Hag stays in defiant temper.
“We’re additionally on an excellent run. The spirit is excellent,” he mentioned.
“We have now carried out it earlier than in opposition to Metropolis, additionally in opposition to Liverpool. We’ll put together nicely. The gamers are wanting ahead to it. I can scent it. I’m excited.”
Metropolis defeated United within the FA Cup closing final season on the way in which to emulating the home treble solely their rivals, in 1999, had beforehand achieved.
This fixture final season resulted in a humiliating 6-3 defeat, though United did win at Previous Trafford. That was not the case this season although, with Metropolis claiming a 3-0 win within the reverse fixture in October.
“We’d like an ideal day,” ten Hag admitted. “We just like the problem and we’re wanting ahead to the problem with them. We all know we’ve to present the whole lot and present a staff efficiency if we wish to get the outcome. However when you do it, it’s potential.”
🗓️ 3 Mar: Man Utd
🗓️ 6 Mar: Champions League spherical of 16
🗓️ 10 Mar: Liverpool
🗓️ 16 Mar: FA Cup quarter-final
🗓️ 31 Mar: Arsenal
🗓️ 3 Apr: Aston VillaPep Guardiola is wanting ahead to @ManCity‘s upcoming run of fixtures 💬 pic.twitter.com/2SWB7nLEqt
— Premier League (@premierleague) March 1, 2024
Following the United sport, Metropolis face a troublesome run of video games going through their title rivals Liverpool and Arsenal within the league, together with their Champions League final 16-second leg with Copenhagen on Wednesday.
“I desire that than the alternative,” Guardiola mentioned on the problem he faces in all competitions. “Key gamers, we’ve 20 key gamers. We have now had key gamers out injured and nonetheless carried out nicely.
“So good to play the fixtures. They’re the most effective. An opportunity to get to the quarterfinals of the Champions League, then Anfield, an opportunity in opposition to Newcastle United [in the FA Cup] – we work to reach right here to reside these moments.”
Type information
Manchester Metropolis’s season has picked up tempo since their Membership World Cup triumph in December. Pep Guardiola’s aspect have received 14 of their final 15 video games and are undefeated of their final 18 video games.
United had been on a seven-game undefeated run till Fulham’s shock win at Previous Trafford within the Premier League final weekend. Erik ten Hag’s aspect returned to successful method within the FA Cup in midweek by overcoming Nottingham Forest 1-0.
Head-to-head
The Manchester rivals first confronted one another within the outdated Division Two in England in November 1894. United received 5-2 at Metropolis earlier than sealing the double over their neighbours with a 4-1 win within the return fixture in January 1985.
There have been 190 conferences in complete with United successful 77 to Metropolis’s 60.
Staff information
Manchester Metropolis are with out Jack Grealish, who injured his groin within the FA Cup at Luton on Tuesday.
Defender Josko Gvardiol is near a return from an ankle damage however the derby is prone to be too quickly.
Manchester Metropolis predicted lineup: Ederson; Kyle Walker, Josh Stones, Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake; Rodri; Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva, Julian Alvarez, Jeremy Doku; Erling Haaland
Manchester United’s principal absentees are defender Luke Shaw and striker Rasmus Hojlund. Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez and Aaron Wan-Bissaka are additionally all absent from the again line.
Manchester United predicted lineup: Andre Onana; Diogo Dalot, Raphael Varane, Jonny Evans, Victor Lindelof; Kobbie Mainoo, Casemiro; Christian Eriksen, Bruno Fernandes, Alejandro Garnacho, Marcus Rashford
