Yahoo Sports Erik ten Hag revolution continues at pace as United enjoy dramatic derby win
By Sam Wallace, at Old Trafford
Victory at Old Trafford was greeted with a visceral roar and perhaps one day this kind of win will become the norm again, although in the meantime this was just what the Erik ten Hag revolution needed to bring the sceptics a little closer.
It was a scrappy, opportunistic raid by Manchester United and their equaliser had Pep Guardiola making arch comments about pressure upon the officials at Old Trafford. After an hour, City were one goal up and in control. In the space of three minutes they were hit with two United goals that were conjured from behind the curtain – frantic breakaways, defensive mistakes, a replaying of an old United story, that some thought was lost forever.
The winner came from Marcus Rashford, who might have gone off in the first half when he pulled up after yet another sprint in pursuit of a long cross-pitch hit. Ten Hag said later, without much prompting, that Rashford had learned to deal with pain which was all part of the job. Perhaps on another day, Rashford would have put his chin down and asked for the substitution but he will be very glad that on this day he chose to do otherwise.
After almost 10 years of the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, United are a long way from playing like City – but they at least have a solution for playing against City. There were periods of the game when they were twisting in the wind, especially at the start of the second half when the substitute Jack Grealish headed in the first goal and the walls were closing in. Yet this was not a good City performance in a run of substandard City performances and United – who have seen them at their best – at least knew to recognise that.
Grealish’s header from Kevin De Bruyne’s finely struck chip was the only attempt on target by the away side all afternoon. United had much less of the ball but four attempts on Ederson’s goal. At half-time of the corresponding fixture in east Manchester on October 2, City were four goals up and two of them had come from Erling Haaland. On his first trip to Old Trafford the Premier League’s top goalscorer looked disconnected from the rest of his team-mates as Guardiola himself later acknowledged.
Jack Grealish scores off the bench to give Man City a derby lead! ⚽
What a time to bag his second of the season! 🎯 pic.twitter.com/xScG02EcK2— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) January 14, 2023
Guardiola said this was a much better performance than the Carabao Cup elimination to Southampton on Wednesday which he is still talking about with the sombreness of a death in the family. He refused to blame it all on the decision by referee Stuart Attwell that Rashford was not seeking to gain an advantage when he ran from an offside position tracking Casemiro’s ball before Bruno Fernandes finished it. Or at least Guardiola just blamed a bit of it on that offside decision. “We know where we are,” he said, reflecting on the pressures on the referee.
A win for Arsenal at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday will give Mikel Arteta’s club an eight-point lead over City although it feels nothing like as insurmountable as it might if the positions were reversed. Of greater concern for Guardiola was how easy United got through City later in the game, especially the substitute Alejandro Garnacho who was twice given the chance to cross the ball for Rashford’s winner. Guardiola muttered darkly about his players being in the wrong positions to stop the counterattack but chiefly he was making the point that City played the way he wanted.
The implication being that United were not. In the stands was loan signing Wout Weghorst, his two daughters on his lap and looking every bit like a man still coming to terms with having been given the greatest, unexpected Christmas present imaginable.
Ten Hag was obliged to take off Anthony Martial at half-time with the Frenchman on the brink of what United feared might be a much worse injury. He was replaced by Antony and Ten Hag switched his front six a few times before he alighted on the winning solution. He had picked Luke Shaw as a left-sided centre-half again, even with Victor Lindelof, Lisandro Martinez and Harry Maguire available.
Martinez and Scott McTominay both had their substitutes’ gear off and were ready to come on before the Fernandes equaliser. Ten Hag was to swap the Argentine for Tyrell Malacia and try to use Shaw’s attacking threat on the left. When the goal went in, he sat both players back down until time added on at the end of the game. Ten Hag’s players had almost lost the game in the early stages of the second half and then, against the odds, they recovered to win it.
For those 15 minutes early in the second half, the old gulf between the two sides was evident. City were relentless. The line finally broke when De Bruyne got the ball back from Riyad Mahrez in the inside right channel and held off Casemiro masterfully. The Brazilian was clutching for De Bruyne’s hand when the latter chipped the ball to Grealish in the centre. Raphael Varane, one of his side’s outstanding players, could not get to in time.
Ten Hag said that he thought his team should have been winning at half-time and there had been some inroads. Rashford had gone round Ederson at one point when the pass from Fernandes had released the striker and Kyle Walker had to cover in front of his goal. Rashford went in again before half-time from Christian Eriksen’s pass, yet by 68 minutes and his team a goal down he was flapping his arms at a misplaced pass. It felt like United had run up against their limits and that another defeat to City was unfolding. Ten Hag sent on Garnacho for Eriksen who had been quiet. There were very few alternatives.
The equaliser, when it came, was from a Casemiro pass. Rashford chased the ball but, knowing he had been offside when it was played, never touched it. Manuel Akanji struggled to reach it. The assistant Darren Cann, no doubt suspecting that Rashford had let it run, allowed play to continue and Fernandes finished off the toes of Rashford. Cann raised his flag for offside but as soon as Fernandes told him that Rashford had left the ball you could see on the close-ups that the officials had the last piece of the puzzle. The goal was given.
Bruno Fernandes causes scenes at Old Trafford! 💥
His goal is ruled onside after the linesman initially put his flag up! ✅ pic.twitter.com/AJDIGH2Be5— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) January 14, 2023
This was United’s chance. When Garnacho got the ball on the left three minutes later his second cross found Rashford to finish for a big win.
As it happened
03:13 PM
Erik ten Hag speaks to BT Sport - 'The belief is back'
On the victory...
"I think we played very well first half, we defended well and were proactive, we created opportunities on the break. I was happy at half time and we should have been 1-0 up. Then in the second half City came in the game, we were not proactive. They scored. The spirit of the team is so huge, the belief is there that the game is 90 minutes and we can fight back. The spirit is there we keep believing and turned it around. I am really happy."
On the controversial equaliser...
"It's a confusing moment for the backline of the opponent, but [Rashford] didn't touch the ball and not interfering. Bruno came from the back – but I can see it from the other side."
On Rashford recovering from his first-half knock...
"Players have to be resilient. You get kicked in a game. It happened and it hurts but you have to keep going. You have to do it to get the right result and performance. Deal with the painful moment and the game will go on. In top football you have to suffer and sacrifice to get the right result."
On United being in the title race...
"Not a step forward the belief is back but in a good direction but long way to go. City are the best playing team in the league with Arsenal and we had to work out of possession and to get result we have to be really good to defending."
03:02 PM
Who impressed and who had a game to forget?
Erling Haaland proved he's human after all with a goal-shy showing at Old Trafford, while Bruno Fernandes was well worth his man-of-the-match performance.
Here are the player ratings from Old Trafford...
Manchester United vs Manchester City player ratings: Bruno Fernandes stars; Erling Haaland muzzled
02:56 PM
Pep Guardiola speaks to BT Sport - 'Rashford was distracting our keeper and centre-backs'
On the defeat...
"The game was really good. We played good. They are incredible in transitions. Congratulations to the team. I'm proud to come here and play with this personality. They punished us in transitions."
On the United equaliser...
"Marcus Rashford is offside, Bruno Fernandes is not. Rashford distracted our keeper and centre defenders. It is what it is. We know where we play. It is difficult for the referees in these stadiums."
On a Haaland penalty shout...
"I ask but…"
On the City performance...
"We missed a little bit of threat up front, a bit disconnected. We make a fantastic game. I don’t care in the Premier League and Carabao Cup. We won a lot. It’s not a problem. Carabao Cup is out, it doesn’t matter. I care about the performance."
On where City lie in the title race...
"There are plenty of points to play for and we have to play there. In every game we have to perform. We always play in these sort of games and in others we struggle a little bit."
02:51 PM
Yet more on that equaliser
Former Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech leaves no one in any doubt as to what he thinks about the Fernandes goal...
The first United goal just proved the people who make the rules don’t understand the game.
— Petr Cech (@PetrCech) January 14, 2023
02:41 PM
More on Fernandes' controversial equaliser
It wouldn't be a big Premier League match without a bit of controversy. Fernandes' goal sparked a quick-fire turnaround for Manchester United, but debate raged about whether Marcus Rashford was offside in the build-up.
Here's more on the strike that changed the complexion of the match - Bruno Fernandes equaliser: Should controversial goal have counted in Manchester derby?
02:36 PM
Marcus Rashford speaks to BT Sport -
On his first-half knock...
"Just a little knock. In games like this you just have to try and push through. And that's what I did. This game is a little bit special, it's good to get the three points and win at Old Trafford."
On Garnacho's impact off the bench...
"It was a change of dynamics. We have options off the bench, everyone's putting a shift in. [Garnacho] comes on and is making a difference."
02:34 PM
Bruno Fernandes speaks to BT Sport - 'We look like a team now'
On the victory...
"It was important to win, the most important thing is winning. We look like a team now. Some time ago you could see some times a team some times [not]. Now you see a team that looks out for each other."
On his equaliser...
"I was facing the goal, [Rashford] knew I was in better position. I didn't know he was offside. It's a goal and we're really happy."
On being in the title race...
"That doesn't matter for us, we have to look forward to the next game. You have to keep on winning. We have to celebrate this win. But from tomorrow the focus is on [our next game]Crystal Palace."
02:27 PM
FULL TIME: Man Utd 2-1 Man City
Manchester United are very much part of the title race now. They've beaten City and are now just a point behind their neighbours. The Fernandes equaliser was controversial but from that moment, with the shackles off, the hosts did what they had to do. Just 104 days after the humiliating 6-3 defeat at the Etihad Erik ten Hag's side have turned it around and look a completely different side, a goal down they didn't fold (as you suspect they would have a few months ago). Impressive.
02:24 PM
94 mins: Man Utd 2-1 Man City
There's a bit of head tennis in and around the United box. It seems as though all bar three players in red are in their own box and they do what they have to do to eventually clear the danger.
02:23 PM
93 mins: Man Utd 2-1 Man City
City are pushing for an equaliser - United are defending well and in numbers and Shaw heads clear a cross at the back post with Haaland lurking with intent. Shaw has impressed today and it's not hard to see why he' playing at centre-back.
02:22 PM
92 mins: Man Utd 2-1 Man City
Three changes for United - Maguire, Martinez and McTominey are on. Rashford, Casemito and Malacia are off.
02:20 PM
89 mins: Man Utd 2-1 Man City
There will be five minutes for City to try and find an equaliser. They're passing it around waiting for an opening but everything is in front of United and they intercept and break free much to the pleasure of the very vocal home fans.
02:18 PM
No doubt about this one...
Marcus Rashford is at it again! 🔥
Alejandro Garnacho and Man Utd's number 10 combine to put the home side 2-1 up in the derby! ⚽ pic.twitter.com/kaUSgVv1iL— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) January 14, 2023
02:18 PM
What do you make of Fernandes' equaliser?
Bruno Fernandes causes scenes at Old Trafford! 💥
His goal is ruled onside after the linesman initially put his flag up! ✅ pic.twitter.com/AJDIGH2Be5— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) January 14, 2023
02:17 PM
85 mins: Man Utd 2-1 Man City
It had been as relaxed a derby as you will find until about eight minutes ago. Since then it's erupted, with that VAR goal from Fernandes and that Rashford strike. Haaland - who's had a quiet game (he is human after all) goes down under a challenge from Casemiro and the City players appeal for a penalty. Stuart Attwell waves play on and a replay shows why...VAR, this time, stays out of it, or at least agrees with the man in the middle.
02:11 PM
GOOOOOOOAAAALLLL!!
Man Utd 2-1 Man City (Rashford)
What a turnaround at Old Trafford! Garnacho is mature beyond his young age and illustrates that once again here. He's through on the right, gets his head up and, at the second attempt, delivers a low cross from the that Rasford slots first time under the legs of Ederson.
02:08 PM
GOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLL!!
Man Utd 1-1 Man City (Fernandes)
Bit of a controversial one this which I am sure we'll be talking about for a wee while...
The ball is played from the right for Rashford who is in the centre. The United and England man is offside and while is within a yard of the ball doesn't make contact, realising he was offside. Fernandes screams at him to leave it and slots past the on-rusing Ederson. It's not clear whether it has been allowed before Stuart Attwell speaks with the assistant referee and it stands!
02:06 PM
76 mins: Man Utd 0-1 Man City
Garnacho is set free on the left - the Argentine drives at the City box but is ultimately out-numbered and out-run as Akanji intercepts.
United have looked risk-averse this half. Perhaps it's time to throw bodies forward and ask questions of the City defence?
02:04 PM
73 mins: Man Utd 0-1 Man City
United just cannot put the City backline under any pressure. The visitors' defence hasn't been tested this half. As I type Malacia is in a good position on the left and, as if to illustrate the hosts' lack of cutting edge since the break, puts in a poor cross that falls for a City player.
02:01 PM
71 mins: Man Utd 0-1 Man City
Change for United - and it is indeed the 18-year-old Garnacho who comes on. Eriksen, who looked good in the first half but has been ineffective since the break, is the man to make way.
02:00 PM
70 mins: Man Utd 0-1 Man City
Twenty minutes to go and Garnacho looks as though he's about to come on. United just haven't been able to maintain any continued pressure on City this half and, bar that Wan Bissaka shot, the visitors have been well in control since taking the lead.
01:57 PM
66 mins: Man Utd 0-1 Man City
United have finally woken up. They pass the ball around well before Wan Bissaka decides to shot from outside the area, the attempt takes a deflection and the hosts have a corner. Can they create something from this? The short answer to that is 'nope', but better stuff from the hosts.
01:55 PM
Here's how City took the lead
Jack Grealish scores off the bench to give Man City a derby lead! ⚽
What a time to bag his second of the season! 🎯 pic.twitter.com/xScG02EcK2— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) January 14, 2023
01:54 PM
Grealish heads home
It's his second goal of the season.
01:53 PM
57 mins: Man Utd 0-1 Man City
I think that was City's first attempt on target - but it had been coming. United haven't looked great since the break and their city rivals had been proding and probing away.
01:48 PM
GOOOOOOAAAAALLLL!!
Man Utd 0-1 Man City (Grealish)
And the sub has made an instant impact! City have looked the more dangerous side since the break and get the goal they deserve. De Bruyne finds a bit of space in the inside-right channel. Casemiro cannot get close enough to him to prevent him from dinking in a delightful ball (when does he not provide lovely crosses?) and Grealish heads home from no more than three yards.
01:48 PM
57 mins: Man Utd 0-0 Man City
Changes for City - Grealish is on for Foden. Can his conjure up something for the visitors?
01:46 PM
55 mins: Man Utd 0-0 Man City
City having a good period - first Cancelo drives at the box and goes down under the challenge of Casemiro. Stuart Attwell waves play on - the replay shows that there probably wasn't enough in the tangle to merit a penalty.
The visitors are just quickening things up and looking more dangerous as a result.
01:44 PM
52 mins: Man Utd 0-0 Man City
More goalmouth action - is it Christmas already?! City attack down the right with De Bruyne - who else? - floating a lovely ball to the back post. Bernardo Silva heads it back into the danger area but it won't fall for either Haaland or Foden who were lurking with intent in the centre.
01:42 PM
51 mins: Man Utd 0-0 Man City
United free kick on the right in the final third. It comes to Verane at the back post and his attempt is pushed wide of the post by Ederson - he was, however, offside. But a bit of goalmouth action - hurrah!
01:40 PM
James Ducker at Old Trafford
No surprise Martial hauled off at half-time. He was awful in the first period. If you're being kind, he had a late fitness test and may not have been 100 per cent but there's no excuse for jogging around the pitch. Antony is on and now playing as a false nine, with Fernandes still out right.
01:40 PM
49 mins: Man Utd 0-0 Man City
City are, as with the first half, seeing more of the ball. But, also as with the first half, are unable to fashion anything remotely close to a chance. This isn't a 'all hell breaks loose' derby, in fact it's the complete opposite - no tackles are flying in and it's all rather hum drum.
01:37 PM
47 mins: Man Utd 0-0 Man City
The second half has begun as the first ended - cagey...As I type Bernardo Silva shoots from outside the box, it's deflected and loops into the arms of a grateful De Gea.
01:33 PM
45 mins: Man Utd 0-0 Man City
So the news is that United have made a change, but it's not for Rashford. The England man stays on having looked injured just before the break. It's Martial, who looked half a yard behind the pace, who is off, Antony is the new man.
01:27 PM
Pep won't be happy
187 - Across all competitions, Manchester City have gone 187 minutes since registering their last shot on target from open play (Phil Foden v Chelsea in the FA Cup). Restricted. pic.twitter.com/UHCyp0Lpxy
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 14, 2023
01:26 PM
Ederson saved by his defenders
Not sure where the City goalkeeper was going...
Where was Ederson going? 😅 pic.twitter.com/6YbD1Y6j5x
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) January 14, 2023
01:23 PM
James Ducker's half-time verdict
It's delicately poised at half-time. Wouldn't like to call which way it will go. An interesting one from Ten Hag starting three full-backs in defence with Luke Shaw moved inside at centre-half once again. Malacia had a tough time of it in the 6-3 in October, partly because he was left horribly exposed, partly because it looked a step too far too soon, and it was a shaky start here but he settled down considerably. City were afforded too much space in midfield early on before United got a grip of things. Guardiola hasn't looked particularly enamoured with elements of his team's play or goalkeeper Ederson, who has been ballooning long balls out, others straight to De Gea and careered out against Rashford and relieved the ball was cleared on the line.
01:20 PM
HALF TIME: Man Utd 0-0 Man City
It is, as expected a close contest. It is also, not overly expected, a match low on real goal threats. It's an edgy affair and both managers walk into the tunnel doubtless with things to arrange ahead of the second 45 minutes. I fancy Ten Hag will be the happier of the two coaches, United marginally on top.
01:18 PM
45 mins: Man Utd 0-0 Man City
Kyle Walker receives the ball 30 yards from the United goal. There aren't many options on for him so he decides to have a go - why not? The shot fizzes just wide of the right post. Decent attempt that from a man who is a good striker of a ball.
01:16 PM
James Ducker from Old Trafford
It was a frantic first five minutes or so for United but they gradually calmed down and have been the most threatening side as the first half progressed, with Rashford's pace a threat down the left. He was in twice, rounding keeper Ederson for the first but having a shot cleared off the line.
01:15 PM
41 mins: Man Utd 0-0 Man City
Rashford chases Akanji on near the left flank. The United and England man then pulls up almost straight away and falls to the ground. The BT Sport commentator thinks it might be his hip that causing the problem. After a while Rashford gets up and walks. He continues, probably waiting for half time to get a proper look at whatever may be wrong with him.
01:11 PM
40 mins: Man Utd 0-0 Man City
City have had more of the ball but United have posed the greater threat and as if to illustrate the impotency of the visitors' goal threat Mahraz runs at the hosts' box before laying the ball of to absolutely no one in the light blue shirt.
01:09 PM
36 mins: Man Utd 0-0 Man City
Good stuff from United. They are finding joy on the left. They break through Eriksen who plays an inch-perfect through ball for Rashford. His first touch takes him into the box, but his second is poor and give Ederson the chance to dive on the ball. The hosts are (marginally) on top at the moment.
01:06 PM
33 mins: Man Utd 0-0 Man City
Great chance for the hosts - the ball over the top for Rashford tempts, for some reason known only to himself, Ederson out of his goal. The United forward takes it around the onrushing keeper, who is in the dictionary definition of footballing no-man's land, and shoots - his shot blocked by, I think, Akanji. The angle a bit too acute for Rashford.
01:04 PM
31 mins: Man Utd 0-0 Man City
Decent chance for United to create something as they break from their half. Rashford drives with the ball, lays it off to Fernandes whose less that pin-point pass is intercepted by Walker with Malacia lurking. The United left-back then tangles with the City man and appears to hit his head on the turf as he falls. He's up after a minute or so of being looked at the the medical team.
It's not really clicking for either side.
01:01 PM
29 mins: Man Utd 0-0 Man City
This is what you'd call a 'tactical battle' - both sides look well organised and this is a pretty even affair so far.
12:58 PM
26 mins: Man Utd 0-0 Man City
Rashford is just inside his own half and decides to play a long diagonal for Fernandes who cannot control the ball in the wind.
The ball then breaks for City, De Bruyne then attacks down the middle before playing a ball on the right for Mahrez whose cross is dealt well with by the hosts.
12:56 PM
24 mins: Man Utd 0-0 Man City
First chance for both City and Haaland. Bernardo Silva crosses for Mahrez, the ball breaks for the big Norwegian who takes a touch, cuts inside onto his left foot before shooting low. United, however, gets bodies between the ball and the goal with Casemiro one of two players throwing themselves at the shot. Ten Hag will doubtless be extremely happy with what he's seeing from his team at the moment.
12:53 PM
22 mins: Man Utd 0-0 Man City
Still not seen much of Haaland, De Bruyne, Mahrez or Foden - testament to the solid start United have made.
12:52 PM
19 mins: Man Utd 0-0 Man City
Malacia blocks Mahrez's cross and it's corner for City - the first of the game. But as with their play so far today, the hosts are unable to create anything remotely close to a chance from the set piece. This is still very much the dictionary definition of a 'cagey affair'.
12:50 PM
Here's that Fernandes chance
12:49 PM
16 mins: Man Utd 0-0 Man City
Another City player who's been anonymous so far is Haaland. Fred is doing well dropping back to deal with the freak of a striker. This is all going according to what you assume is Ten Hag's plan.
12:46 PM
13 mins: Man Utd 0-0 Man City
United looking (slightly) the more dangerous side. Martial has the ball on the left and delivers it to Rashford in the box. City, through Cancelo, do just enough to clear the danger.
The hosts are looking confident on the ball and De Bruyne isn't currently able to orchestrate things for the visitors.
12:45 PM
12 mins: Man Utd 0-0 Man City
Not the frenzied start of previous Manchester derbies - that will more than suit United. Both teams are well organised and, more often than not, there's no obvious pass for the man with the ball.
12:42 PM
10 mins: Man Utd 0-0 Man City
The first shot of note of the game goes to United. Bernardo Silva's pass is intercepted by Casemiro. The Brazilain gives it to Eriksen who plays in Fernandes. The Portuguese playmaker takes a touch into the box, on the right-hand side, before shooting low, just past the far upright. The hosts are growing into this match.
12:40 PM
8 mins: Man Utd 0-0 Man City
Untied are keeping the ball well, City are pressing high up, as they usually do, but the hosts are passing it well but without any penetration so far. As I type that the hosts are in the City box but Malacia is offside. Promising stuff nonetheless for Ten Hag's side.
Cagey start all round.
12:37 PM
6 mins: Man Utd 0-0 Man City
City still dominating possession, the hosts happy to sit a bit deep and compress the play. City attack through De Bruyne, Silva and Cancelo but the later's cross is easily cleared by United.
12:35 PM
4 mins: Man Utd 0-0 Man City
All calm out on the pitch so far - City are seeing more of the ball but no chances to speak of yet as Malacia gets the better of Mahrez on the right, earning a polite round of applause from the home fans for his troubles.
12:33 PM
2 mins: Man Utd 0-0 Man City
Cancelo runs from the back and runs at United drawing a foul from Eriksen. The Portuguese hasn't been a regular starter of late but has started this match on the front foot.
12:31 PM
1 min: Man Utd 0-0 Man City
They're under way at Old Trafford - both teams in their usual, famous colours.
12:26 PM
The two teams are in the tunnel
While the Stone Roses' This is the One is cranking up the crowd. We're moments away from kick off.
12:25 PM
A close encounter?
Looking forward to this one - think it will be a close affair with goals. Not sure that either back four look completely solid but United's aim will be to keep City quiet for the first 20-25 minutes and look to attack on the counter.
12:12 PM
Manchester derby stats
United have lost the past three league meetings between the two sides. A fourth would equal the club's Premier League record for defeats against the same opponent, set against Liverpool in 2002 and City in 2014.
City have won nine of their past 14 visits to Old Trafford in all competitions, directly following a run of one victory in 32 attempts.
United could go four successive home games without scoring against City for just the second time, and first since 1914.
12:04 PM
Erik ten Hag speaks - 'Man City are the best team in the league'
On the challenge facing Man Utd today...
"I think [Man City] is the best team in the league. Arsenal are leading and are doing an incredible job and are a good team as well but I think City is a big test. It is of course a derby but also the quality of the players and the co-operation in the team... You have to be good to win this game."
On his starting XI...
"Lisandro Martinez didn't play that many games in the last four weeks. Charlton was the first time he played 90 minutes. This is a real, big game. We need him today but we will see at what point. Of course he can contribute to this back four and we can put him on. It is always the team first. The team has to defend properly as a unit. If the centre-halves don't get co-operation from the rest of the team they are exposed."
On what his side have to do...
"It is more than Erling Haaland. We have to defend a lot of good players from them. The most important thing is to play our game and on the ball show belief, go forward as much as possible."
11:58 AM
As we needed any confirmation of how good he is...
500 - This will be Pep Guardiola’s 500th game of his top-flight managerial career. He has won 379 of his 499 games to date (76%), with this the most wins and best win rate (100+ games) of any manager in Europe’s big-five leagues since his first season in 2008-09. Master. pic.twitter.com/IG4gSzyppG
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 14, 2023
11:56 AM
Pep Guardiola speaks - 'We are a little bit away from the best team in the Premier League'
On the defeat to Southampton...
"During the season there are good and bad moments. We will never forget who we are, we have to do the best performance we can, we will do it again."
On the starting XI...
"Everyone is fresh, in this part of the season everyone is playing minutes and training. We cannot just think this season how many minutes people have played. Over the past 10 years players have played many minutes."
On Manchester United's great run of form...
"In this season they have huge moments and a new manager has to settle. They've been incredible."
On City's form...
"We cannot forget who we are and where we are. We are a little bit away from the best team in the Premier League, in Arsenal, but we are second in the table and we are there. There are 60 or 63 points left to get in the season."
11:52 AM
Kevin De Bruyne speaks...
The Belgian told BT Sport...
On Man Utd's fine run of form...
"They've been having a good season and playing good football so it will be tough. It's a derby so anything that happened before or after goes through the window as it's a game in itself."
On the shock defeat to Southampton...
"We didn't play good enough against Southampton and we need to accept it. That doesn't change the rest. When you have a schedule like you have the last four games and it's a lot of travelling, it is hard. But I don't think different players change the outcome of the game. We have a good team and we will try to perform as best as we can."
On how he thinks United will play...
"I think they have changed their style a little bit. In the last few years they were more on the counter-attack but now they play more possession-based football with Erik ten Hag. It will be tough."
11:49 AM
Here are the teams in black and white
MAN UNITED XI TO FACE MAN CITY: De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Shaw, Varane, Malacia, Fred, Casemiro, Eriksen, Fernandes, Rashford, Martial. Subs: Lindelof, Maguire, Martinez, Antony, Heaton, Elanga, McTominay, Garnacho, Mainoo.
The hosts have made nine changes to the one that won at Charlton in the Carabao Cup - no shock there. Luke Shaw starts at centre-back, Fred and Tyrell Malacia keep keep their places and Anthony Martial starts up front despite worries about leg injury.
MAN CITY XI TO FACE MAN UNITED: Ederson, Walker, Ake, Akanji, Cancelo, Rodri, De Bruyne, Silva, Mahrez, Foden, Haaland. Subs: Phillips, Gundogan, Grealish, Laporte, Ortega, Alvarez, Gomez, Palmer, Lewis.
Pep Guardiola has made as many as eight changes to the side that unexpectedly lost to Southampton in the Carabao Cup in midweek. Kyle Walker, Joao Cancelo and Phil Foden are the three to keep their places and the cavalry in the form of Erling Haaland, Riyad Mahraz and Kevin de Bruyne charge in.
11:38 AM
Here are the two starting XIs
Team news! 📣
🔴Shaw stays at centre-back, Martial starts
🔵Cancelo at left-back, Foden preferred to Grealish
Man Utd 🆚 Man City#TelegraphFootball | #MUNMCI pic.twitter.com/zj2PcBu2nM— Telegraph Football (@TeleFootball) January 14, 2023
11:32 AM
Manchester United title challengers?
Time moves quickly in football. There will doubtless be a manager who’s secure in his job at the moment who in a few weeks’ time will be fighting to stay in the dugout. And it was just three months ago that Manchester United were ‘four, five years away from being anywhere close to flighting for the title’, the next few seasons written off as merely a foundation-building phase crucial to getting the ‘great club back to where it should be’.
After the 6-3 humiliation at the Etihad back in October it’s not hard see why. Having improved since their opening two defeats to Brighton and Brentford the humiliating defeat against their rivals was supposed to be a huge reality check, a true indication of where the club lay.
But since then they've won 10 of the next 11 matches and, more than that, have looked like a side tough to beat and to be feared. They haven't conceded in four months and with a win today will be just a point behind the city rivals, who are still everyone's favourites to win yet another title.
Do United under Erik ten Hag believe they are title challengers? Today's match, and the ones to follow at Crystal Palace and Arsenal will reveal much. But it's clear that the club under the Dutchman is definitely moving in the right direction and the chances of a thrashing, as we saw in October, are few and far between.
11:14 AM
Pep Guardiola tells Manchester City players home truths
By Mike McGrath
Pep Guardiola has delivered ‘home truths’ to his Manchester City squad this week during private meetings, and told his players they must look themselves in the mirror and meet the club's high standards.
Defeat by Southampton in the EFL Cup led to City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan admitting there was “a special ingredient missing”, and questioning the desire and hunger of his team-mates ahead of the Manchester derby on Saturday at Old Trafford. Guardiola has been honest with his players, who have also dropped points against Everton and Brentford recently.
“All I can do is to tell my players the reality in good and bad moments. I have more experience than them, not at playing football but at analysing what happens, I’m better than them, I’m the only person to tell them the truth. That is my job. Put everyone in the team individually in front of their own mirrors to look at themselves,” the City manager said.
“I’ve done it in the past, recently. I did it this week. Sometimes not saying anything, they see my face, they know exactly the situation. Maybe they are not used to it because they are surrounded by people telling them how good they are. I am the only person in their own lives who can tell them exactly what the situation is.”
Guardiola will be without John Stones through injury and Ruben Dias is also sidelined. The lunchtime fixture gives City the chance to close the gap on Premier League leaders Arsenal and show they have the consistency for another title challenge.
“The situation is seven years together, it’s not like Erik [Ten Hag] a few months where they are building – we are here for a long, long time,” he said. “To handle that is completely different.
“I have to tell them why we are a team, we are always there. It’s because we won the lot.
“The performance at Southampton I’ve never seen before. You can say it’s one day, mistakes, but it is not allowed.”
While United’s aim has been to return to the Champions League places, Guardiola believes they are title contenders too.
“It’s not just City spending a lot of money in this league. United do what they have done. It’s just a question of being settled, patient and supporting the manager unconditionally. United is playing now how they have played all their history. I said a few months ago that United is back. People say they’re not. They’re back. I knew it, I felt it,” he said.
“From my experience, when you say title challengers, you have to see the way they are playing, in those terms. To have confidence, my team or another team, it’s the way we played, how consistent we are. Not results, it’s how your best players are playing.”
