Jose Mourinho has told his Manchester United players to focus only on themselves ahead of the derby meeting with Manchester City, insisting it is about his team showing “our identity”.
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David Silva has been on fire in his past two games, scoring twice for Spain in their 2-0 victory over Belgium during the worldwide break and assisting Raheem Sterling’s goal in City’s 3-1 victory over West Ham in the Premier League.
The poisonous relationship which developed when they were in charge at Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively has not been in evidence. They just rolled over backwards and allowed Manchester United to beat them 2-0 two weeks ago.
More of a concern to Mourinho is the absence of Aguero, which he expects will result in a tactical shift up front for the Blues.
Asked if Guardiola’s record over Mourinho gives him an advantage, Souness said: “No, not at all”.
“It depends on the way we play”, he said. We are prepared and we are ready.
‘The best players always have an impact.
“We’re a very well-organised team, the manager is a victor and he transmits that very well”. I have played in all of them, the only one I missed was this one. Another one is for example if he decides to play with [David] Silva as a fake number nine in between the lines. “When Aguero is available, we know that he plays, we know their formation, and their dynamics”. With Aguero it’s a hard situation to face them.
Three players could make their City debuts, with Claudio Bravo set to play in goal following his move from Barcelona last month. “We have to try to be in every game what we are”.
“But Sergio and Marcos, they went around the globe”. “The big players don’t have to understand the league or need time”.
“Antonio [Valencia] was able to get one flight direct to Madrid and then to London and Manchester”. They are looking for someone to get them back to the top of competitions.
The duo’s late arrival is likely to be irritating rather than impactful as neither are expected to play a key role on Saturday – a highly-charged occasion Mourinho is taking in his stride.
“The people who go to Old Trafford tomorrow, they go there not to see me and Jose on the side, they’re going to see all the big fantastic players out on the field”.
“Jose is trying to play it down as just another game, but as a manager you try and do that”.
“If he invites me to do that I will accept”.
There will be chances and there will be an edgy atmosphere at Old Trafford, but the hosts should have that bit of quality to unlock the City defence and hold firm at the back to keep Guardiola’s men out to claim all three points.
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“I saw in the 10 days (of the worldwide break) the four games and every game Manchester United played better than they did before”. They’ve always had very good players and, again, have very good players now, so they are what they are since I returned to England in 2013.
