The veteran forward has been essential in United’s steady start to the season, and his adoration of Mourinho blended with a dislike of Guardiola could provide the motivation he needs to excel in his first Manchester derby.
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It is already clear these two sides will be in the mix for the title and both will want to make a statement of intent.
The two Manchester clubs prepare to put their flawless records on the line as United welcome City to Old Trafford for the first Manchester Derby of the season.
Once upon a time, when their paths crossed at Barcelona, Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola got on quite well.
“I have played in all of them, the only one I missed was this one”.
The star of the early weeks of the new Premier League season appears to be on the right side heading into the derby.
‘Missing Aguero a massive blow for City’ Mourinho and Guardiola: What makes them different?
“I have played in many leagues in many countries but the Manchester [United] fans have eclipsed anything I have ever known”.
The Portuguese was seen leaving his central Manchester hotel, The Lowry, and heading into work as he looks to fine tune his players ahead of the visit of Pep Guardiola’s side on Saturday.
“The introduction of the two managers and I think for United with Pogba coming and Ibrahimovic coming it’s a huge thing”, Neville said. “It’s more hard. It looks a little bit of a contradiction, but without Aguero it is more hard”. I was fascinated by what I saw outside.
Bravo has been the subject of friendly teasing from United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
City will be without Sergio Aguero, its leading striker and top scorer, because of suspension.
“Man City spent the money to bring them in direct flights from Venezuela, or maybe they sent one of the planes from the owner”. When the opportunity came again for him to be my coach at United it was an easy decision.
“I said it many times – I have a lot of respect for Mourinho, I always try to learn from all of my colleagues – it’s the same with him”, Guardiola added.
Liverpool played its first three games of the season on the road, gaining four points as builders were occupied at home. “But now he doesn’t play, they have an unbelievable squad in terms of options and there are many things (Guardiola) could do”.
The opening goal of the contest came within ten minutes of the restart as Juan Mata floated in a perfectly placed ball that Ibrahimovic ran onto and powered a header past the helpless Bravo.
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The £600m total figure, of course, doesn’t take into account the value of the respective men on both benches, including £26m United winger Henrikh Mkhitaryan. “I know what he wants and what he demands”, Ibrahimovic told BBC’s Football Focus.
