Key Stat: City have won four of the last five in the Manchester Derby.
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“Both teams looked defensively solid”.
Both the teams have started well this season and many new names will get the first taste of the Manchester derby at the weekend.
Derby games are huge occasions.
The Chilean also revealed he takes great pride in his team’s ability to cope with different situations and still come up trumps. Normally the key factor in the big games are the individual performance of the players.
The Manchester United manager however said that it is possible for an English club to win a league and UCL double.
“I think for the fans it’s very emotional”, van Gaal told reporters.
With nine matches played, City top the table with 21 points, followed by Arsenal and United on 19, with West Ham United a further two back on 17. That is not so important who is the favourite. “I hope we can do that again but it is always difficult”.
City runs into the town and title rival Manchester United at a rather inopportune time. Coach Wenger knows the importance of this game but expects a tough opponent with Everton. I I took the penalty in front of the scoreboard end, I think Joe Corrigan was in goal, I scored and we went on to beat them. “We have done everything to help the recovery for the players. It’s a big step when we win but still you have to continue”. I think the moment when I get to Old Trafford is when you really realise who you are playing for.
“It’s not a game that decides the title”, he added. Tottenham away – in the first half there.
“I can see it clearly on the video that he doesn’t touch the ball but the legs of Herrera, but we don’t have that luck this season”.
“It [how long he plays for] is dependent on the player”, said Van Gaal. Statistics are very clear for us. “As an example we have conceded six goals as a outcome of isolated individual mistakes, but the team were always together”. “It’s just like the game against Moscow – they were also organised”.
“When we win (against) Manchester City we are first in the table (if Arsenal drop points to Everton) but that doesn’t mean we are the champion”.
Manchester City have a few injury problems with key players missing, but will be more than up for the task of taking points from United this weekend. But you have to make the goal.
He said: “They are first”.
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“It is a rat race and then you have to play also in the Champions League”. That’s the truth, of course, but that’s football.
