Krishnan Sreekumar
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola aims subtle dig at Manchester United ahead of weekend’s derby
Speaking after his side’s narrow 1-0 win over Everton last weekend (h/t Express), Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola aimed a shot at rivals Manchester United ahead of the derby on Sunday, claiming that the Red Devils were not a team who took the fight to City during games.
The defending champions had to dig deep to win against the Toffees the previous weekend, with Frank Lampard’s team repelling wave after wave of the Manchester club’s attacks. Eventually, Phil Foden grabbed the winner as City extended their lead at the top of the Premier League table.
In his post-match conference with the media, Guardiola said that there were not many teams in the league who opted to attack City and instead preferred to sit back and defend whilst going forward on a counter-attack only in the right moments.
“I’m not saying there is anything wrong with that – every manager can do what they want. One of the principles is to be patient. Don’t concede goals and in the right moment we can do it.”
City have grown into one of the league’s most dangerous and consistent teams, even reaching the Champions League final last season. Under Guardiola, they have won multiple trophies in previous campaigns, and look to defend the PL title by the summer.
“The rest sit back”
United’s noisy neighbours have been the better team in the past decade, given that the Red Devils last won a trophy in 2017. Next season will mark a decade since we last won the Premier League title.
Guardiola aimed a subtle dig at his opponents for Sunday, saying that the Old Trafford side was not one of the teams in the top-flight who chose to attack his side but preferred to sit back and defend.
“I know we provoke them, but except Liverpool, Brighton, Arsenal, Villa and Leeds United, the rest sit back.”
United will be looking for revenge against the Cityzens on Sunday, not just for the Spaniard’s comments against them but also to make sure their opponents do not complete the double over them this season. City ran out 2-0 winners earlier in the campaign at Old Trafford.
In all honesty, Guardiola didn’t name our club in his aforementioned comment but the fact that he omitted it clearly shows what he thinks of our club’s tactics against them. Arguably one of the biggest sporting teams in world sports, United wouldn’t take pride in being a team that sits back and defends for the majority of a game, that too against their bitter rivals.
It will be no easy task to get the better of the defending champions, who have only lost thrice this entire season. Ralf Rangnick‘s side is a different team than the one they faced last year, with the German making sure his side only lost once in the league since he took over.
A win against our bitter rivals will do us a lot of good, cementing our fourth spot in the league and also throwing open the title race to apply the pressure on City. The weekend’s derby has much at stake, and all eyes will be on Rangnick to see whether he can get the better of Guardiola.
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The former Barcelona manager will be confident heading into the game, as his side play at home and have been in brilliant form in the league. Hopefully, United will have a shock result ready for him on Sunday during the derby.
