City runs into the town and title rival Manchester United at a rather inopportune time.
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“It’s not good. It’s not good for English football”.
Van Gaal’s charges were held to a 1-1 draw by CSKA Moscow in the Champions League on Wednesday, but free-scoring City have plundered 11 goals in their last two domestic meetings.
“I don’t know how it looked from the outside but it didn’t feel like a dynamic derby”, he said.
“That is the same for the other players we have bought but they have to adapt to our philosophy and that is a big positive that he is adapting very quickly but he has to adapt more and develop more”.
“We stayed in a hotel the next day”. We have to recover.
City have won six of the last eight derbies, dating back to 2011’s 6-1 win.
Pellegrini has won three of his four derbies as City manager, two in his first season against a United side then led by David Moyes.
But he will not get caught up in the excitement of the occasion.
You have to do your work more rationally and not think that.
“We are second or third, there is a goal difference and a point difference, so I think they are the favourites”.
The point moves City back to the top of the Premier League standings.
Van Gaal believes the strength of the Premier League, making every game tough to win, is also a problem in terms of winning European trophies on top of domestic success.
“We haven’t trained too much today”.
Anthony Martial headed in superbly from an Antonio Valencia cross, it wasn’t a great display from united overall but they do now turn their eye to the Manchester derby at the weekend so it is understandable that they didn’t go all guns blazing for the win. Now they have a chance to make amends and make a statement with City topping the Premier League table and United joint second with Arsenal.
“The champion is only in May. It’s a big step when we win but still you have to continue”.
Wayne Rooney, the record goal scorer in this fixture, turns 30 on the eve of the match. But when teams want to attack, like Manchester City, maybe you find the gaps as a No.10. How he lives for his professional, how strong he is, how ambitious he is.
“It was a penalty but the referee was not giving us that benefit and of course it is hard to see”, the Dutchman said.
“I also let players go because of that and I buy new players. They love these matches”.
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One concern for United, though, will be the effects of the long journey to and from Russian Federation whilst City played their game at The Etihad. “Ashley Young has had three weeks out of training sessions so can not play against City”.
