Jose Mourinho has said Sergio Aguero’s absence makes it harder to second guess Guardiola’s team selection as he tries to work out who will lead the line for City in the absence of the suspended striker.
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Bacary Sagna has recovered from a hamstring injury and summer-signings Leroy Sane, Ilkay Gundogan and Claudio Bravo are all fit to make debuts. For us, it is a game and for me especially.
The goalkeeper, Joe Hart’s replacement, has had just two training sessions to get acquainted to English football.
Now, with Zlatan playing under Mourinho once again, and Guardiola seemingly the only man standing between the pair and an nearly fairytale Premier League title for Zlatan in his maiden Premier League campaign under Mourinho, the old rivalry seems ready to fire up once again. We have to think about ourselves, focus on ourselves. “(But) we know they have so many options, so for (my) players is more hard. That was a great example of that. I want to do the best for my clients. He?
Guardiola said managers like Mourinho pushed him to “reach another level”. I have said many times I have a lot of respect for him.
The pair worked together at Barcelona under Bobby Robson, when Guardiola was a player and Mourinho was a member of the backroom staff.
During their two years as managerial rivals in Spain, both managers won La Liga once, though Guardiola was victorious in the 2011 Champions League, beating Mourinho’s Real Madrid in the semi-final.
“The last meeting in Madrid-Barcelona was not easy but we met each other two or three weeks ago in the Premier League managers’ (meeting) and we spoke fluently with Ronald Koeman (Everton), with Tony Pulis (West Bromwich Albion) so it was okay”. It was correct, so that’s all.
When asked if he would join Mourinho for a drink after the clash at Old Trafford, the current City boss revealed, “I’ll accept if he invites me”. It is clear that they have many options.
Manchester City: Bravo 5, Sagna 7, Kolarov 7, Stones 7, Otamendi 8, Fernandinho 8, Sterling 7, De Bruyne 9, Silva 8, Nolito 8, Iheanacho 7.
Pep Guardiola wants to bury the toxic rivalry with Jose Mourinho that left him a broken man and needing a break from football.
Former Manchester City midfielder Hamann claimed that Ibrahimovic will carry his United team-mates this season given his presence up front in Mourinho’s new-look side.
Guardiola and Mourinho resume hostilities on Saturday in the first Manchester derby of the new season.
Adidas – sponsor of Manchester United – has been busy showing off new club star Paul Pogba in its latest advert on top of the #Pogback campaign last month. Guardiola’s Bayern managed to overcome Chelsea 3-2 on penalties following a 2-2 draw after extra-time.
Jose’s Manchester United go head to head with Pep’s Manchester City at Old Trafford in an epic clash on Saturday 10th of September 2016.
– Skipper Wayne Rooney has scored 11 goals in Manchester derbies, the most in the fixture’s history.
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United have been lagging behind their “noisy neighbours” City in the Premier League for the past few years, but are now favourites to win the match.
