Mourinho emphasised the need for “emotional control” in the match, which will see United and City attempt to end each other’s flawless starts to the Premier League season.
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Insisting there was “no problem” between them, Mourinho described Guardiola as a “very good manager” and said he wasn’t bothered about the media frenzy surrounding their first head-to-head since 2013.
Mourinho wants his significantly taller set of players to use their stature to the team’s advantage and is confident that his side can be superior aerially against Pep Guardiola’s side.
“The Premier League is growing year on year and with the kind of managers and players both clubs have, it is a huge game and the whole world will be watching. We are going to try to figure out what we are going to find tomorrow (Saturday) in Old Trafford with Mourinho’s team”.
“We are ready, we are waiting”, Mourinho said, refusing to get drawn on the inevitable spotlight at the renewal of hostilities between himself and former Barcelona boss Guardiola.
Mourinho said he was more concerned with City’s players than Guardiola. I think you will see that approach from United, putting City under pressure from the first whistle and trying to dominate the game with their physical strength.
Marcus Rashford’s brilliant solo effort was the difference between the two teams when they met last time round although much has changed since then. “I saw in the 10 days, the four games and every game Manchester United played better than they did before”.
“Manchester City spent the money to bring their players on direct flights from Venezuela – or maybe they sent one of the planes from the owner”.
“They had very good managers”.
“He will be very relaxed and sure about what he wants from his players, he usually gives you the ideal plan”, Henry said. “It is clear that they have many options”, Mourinho added.
“So they are what they are since I return to England in 2013”.
“They are a title contender and we have to respect them”.
Mourinho denied his absence made United’s task any easier, though.
“It depends on the way we play”, he said when asked what he expects the result to be. We know their formation, we know their dynamics and nobody has doubts – when a player like him is ready, he plays. They are an wonderful, rich squad in options. (Guardiola) can have many decisions, different decisions.
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“They have so many options that for us in the preparation of the game, we have to go step by step, we have to go situation after situation because we try to reduce the unpredictability of the game, you know?”
