United have enjoyed a flawless start to the new season after securing consecutive victories over Bournemouth, Southampton and Hull City making it the ideal start to life at Old Trafford for new boss Jose Mourinho.
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A victory at Old Trafford for either side could potentially lay down an early marker in the title race.
There was, though, little sign in the pre-match press conference of the resentment and tension that brewed during their time in Spain.
However, given that he suffered a knock on global duty with Armenia last week, it’s unlikely that he will be risked on this occasion, with Mourinho having various options in attack to start against Pep Guardiola’s men. “Of course, I’ll accept a glass of wine after the game if he invites me”.
It was therefore a bit disconcerting to hear Mourinho speak so kindly of the Spaniard on Friday, even going as far as praising him and his work at the Etihad. Jose and I met two or three weeks ago at a Premier League meeting and we spoke fluently. You want a fight, but the fight is (Kell) Brook against the Russian guy (Gennady Golovkin).
Marcus Rashford could make all the difference yet again in the Manchester derby, according to former United striker Andy Cole.
Mourinho proved adept at brushing aside the questions that continued about the pair’s relationship.
“I hope the trophy ends up on the Blue half of Manchester because that will mean we will have had a great season but I don’t think you can rule out Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool who are doing really well”.
The Argentine striker has been suspended for three games after being adjudged to have elbowed Winston Reid during City’s 3-1 win over West Ham United before the global break.
“We’ll try to continue the things we did good and correct and improve the other things”.
“And football also changes in the past years”.
“If you want to be successful and you want to win the game then we have to be at the top of our qualities”.
“I think Mourinho has knowledge of English football and knows what is needed to win big derby games in England, because sometimes it’s not all about football”.
One can’t help but feel that Zlatan was made for games of such astronomical importance. “Let me enjoy the 90 minutes at least”.
“He didn’t want the Chinese money or the American US Dollars, he wanted the most hard place to play his football”.
He branded Guardiola, who sidelined him at Barcelona the following season, a “spineless coward”.
“I never read it”.
City have scored more goals with nine compared to six, although will be missing star striker Sergio Aguero for the derby due to suspension. I read something that Eden is in love with Antonio [Conte] and was not in love with me. But he’s not my enemy, it’s just feeling, that’s fine. It’s not us. It’s not me against him – it’s Man United against Man City. So Zlatan didn’t have the best period of his career [at Barcelona] but that’s fine. “It can seem like he’s not there, he’s not there, and then he goes and scores the decisive goal”.
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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. For me especially, it’s a game. “That’s the story, that’s the story”.
