Less than 48 hours to the Manchester Derby, and edition of the rivalry that is as highly anticipated as any in recent memory. Here’s your match preview guide and a collection of news story links relating to the blockbuster game.
Sky Sports announced that former Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher will represent Manchester City during their coverage of the derby and United supporters had a ton of fun with this. Red Devils club legend Gary Neville will be in the studio to rep United and that started the pre-derby trolling early.
Neville kicked off the shade throwing, by indicating that City will be represented by a musician from a very Beatles like band instead of an actual former player. United fans ran with it on Twitter, and the Manchester Evening News has constructed a fine collection of tweets on this topic.
We can’t find an ex city player that’s won anything ! Noel won GQ haircut of the year once so he’s the best we can get! https://t.co/mLLWYIhq3H
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) December 6, 2017
https://twitter.com/garyMUFC86/status/938452776878837761?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.manchestereveningnews.co.uk%2Fsport%2Ffootball%2Ffootball-news%2Fman-utd-troll-man-city-14007026
Well done M.E.N. well done. Don’t look back in anger, Twitter users.
Paul Pogba missing out due to suspension is a major storyline here and the Frenchman has outlined a path to victory despite his absence for his teammates.
-City midfielder Fernandinho believes Pogba’s absence could adversely effect the hosts but is expecting the Red Devils to hold their own anyway.
“Of course, any team that loses such a good player, they are going to miss him,” Fernandinho told numerous outlets. “But Manchester United have good players and it doesn’t matter who is going to play in his position, they will do a good job. It will be a tough game for both teams.”
Manchester Derby Match Resources:
Manchester Derby Odds: City 11/10, Draw 13/5, United 12/5
United Starting XI Prediction, Jose Mourinho Press Conference Video, Pep Guardiola Press Conference Video, Injury and Fitness Report for both sides.
The Guardian did a power rankings for the 16 teams that advanced to the UEFA Champions League, with City topping the list and United checking in at #5.
Andrei Kanchelskis, who scored 28 goals in 123 appearances for United, and also spent part of 2001 on loan with Manchester City, says that if the blue side of Manchester wins this weekend, the league title race is decided.
-Pep Guardiola was asked if he is as obsessed with winning trophies as his counterpart on the other touchline, Jose Mourinho. He responded in the affirmative, saying that they are “twins” on this dimension.
“Definitely,” he said. “In that, we are twins. He wants to win trophies, I want to win trophies. I think Antonio Conte is the same as well, and Jurgen and Mauricio. In all the leagues around the world, the managers are the same.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune company’s blogging community Chicago Now.
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