International Courant
Who: Manchester Metropolis vs Manchester United
What: Premier League soccer
When: Sunday March 3, 2024, 3:30 PM GMT
The place: Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England
Manchester Metropolis supervisor Pep Guardiola says the Premier League champions are prepared for rivals Manchester United to attempt to “shut the hole” forward of Sunday’s derby match on the Etihad Stadium.
Metropolis is just one level behind leaders Liverpool, who journey to Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
United are eight factors behind Aston Villa in fourth place, the fourth qualifying spot for the Champions League.
The brand new minority proprietor at Previous Trafford, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, laid out his plans to return the 20-time English champions to the highest flight as he accomplished his acquisition of 27 p.c of the membership’s shares this month, together with restoring the pecking order within the high. metropolis.
Forward of Sunday’s match, Guardiola admits the latest change at United is prone to change issues.
“Sir Jim and others know the membership’s analysis. If Sir Jim stated they want two or three years there, who am I to say the other? stated the supervisor.
“I’m certain they are going to work to shut the hole.”
Mikel Arteta
Pep Guardiola
Erik ten Hag
Just one can win February’s @BarclaysFooty Supervisor of the Month award! #PLAwards | Vote pic.twitter.com/W3cnwW7Jzx
— Premier League (@premierleague) February 29, 2024
Metropolis, final season’s three-time winners, additionally added the European Tremendous Cup and Membership World Cup to their choices on the finish of 2023.
Guardiola says he is aware of this period of dominance on the blue aspect of Manchester will finally finish, however he’s decided that will not occur anytime quickly.
“Within the ’80s it was Liverpool, within the ’90s it was United. Now we have been going for thus a few years and we have received seven Premier League titles within the final 11, 12 years,” he stated.
“It has occurred, however in fifty or sixty years there has by no means been a membership in a single nation that dominates and controls every little thing, so we are able to attempt to lengthen what we try to do for as a few years as attainable.”
United’s Premier is battling for a spot within the Champions League
Whereas United aren’t partying on the high, they’ve their very own battles to combat and qualifying for the Champions League is on the high of their agenda. A house defeat to Fulham final weekend ended a seven-match unbeaten run, however United supervisor Erik ten Hag stays in a defiant temper.
“We’re additionally doing properly. The spirit is superb,” he stated.
“We’ve completed it earlier than towards Metropolis, additionally towards Liverpool. We’ll put together properly. The gamers are wanting ahead to it. I can scent it. I am excited.”
Metropolis defeated United within the FA Cup last final season on their approach to equaling the home treble that solely their rivals had beforehand achieved in 1999.
This match resulted in a humiliating 6-3 defeat final season, though United received at Previous Trafford. That wasn’t the case this season, nonetheless, with Metropolis claiming a 3-0 win within the reverse fixture in October.
“We want an awesome day,” ten Hag admitted. “We love the problem and stay up for taking up the problem along with them. We all know we’ve got to provide every little thing and present a crew effort if we need to get the outcome. However should you do it, it’s attainable.”
March 3: Man Utd
Mar 6: Champions League Spherical of 16
March 10: Liverpool
16 Mar: FA Cup quarter-final
Mar 31: Arsenal
April 3: Aston Villa
Pep Guardiola is wanting ahead to it @ManCity‘s upcoming collection of matches pic.twitter.com/2SWB7nLEqt
— Premier League (@premierleague) March 1, 2024
After the United match, Metropolis face a troublesome run of video games towards their title rivals Liverpool and Arsenal within the league, together with their Champions League last-16 tie towards Copenhagen on Wednesday.
“I favor that to the other,” Guardiola stated of the problem he faces in all competitions. “Key gamers, we’ve got twenty key gamers. We have had key gamers injured and we have nonetheless completed properly.
“A lot enjoyable taking part in the matches. They’re the perfect. An opportunity to achieve the quarter-finals of the Champions League, after which Anfield, an opportunity towards Newcastle United (within the FA Cup) – we’re working to get right here to expertise these moments.”
Type information
Manchester Metropolis’s season has gained momentum since profitable the Membership World Cup in December. Pep Guardiola’s aspect have received 14 of their final 15 matches and are unbeaten of their final 18 matches.
United had been unbeaten for seven video games till Fulham surprisingly received at Previous Trafford within the Premier League final weekend. Erik ten Hag’s aspect returned to FA Cup glory in midweek by beating Nottingham Forest 1-0.
Head-to-head
The Manchester rivals first confronted one another in England’s outdated Division Two in November 1894. United received 5-2 at Metropolis earlier than sealing the double over their neighbors with a 4-1 win within the return leg in January 1985.
There have been 190 conferences in complete, with United profitable 77 and Metropolis’s 60.
Workforce information
Manchester Metropolis must do with out Jack Grealish, who suffered a groin harm in the course of the FA Cup in Luton on Tuesday.
Defender Josko Gvardiol is near coming back from an ankle harm, however the derby is prone to come too quickly.
Manchester Metropolis predicted line-up: Ederson; Kyle Walker, Josh Stones, Ruben Dias, Nathan Aké; Rodri; Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva, Julian Alvarez, Jeremy Doku; Erling Haaland
Manchester United’s predominant absentees are defender Luke Shaw and striker Rasmus Hojlund. Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez and Aaron Wan-Bissaka are all additionally lacking from the again line.
Manchester United predicted line-up: Andre Onana; Diogo Dalot, Raphael Varane, Jonny Evans, Victor Lindelof; Kobbie Mainoo, Casemiro; Christian Eriksen, Bruno Fernandes, Alejandro Garnacho, Marcus Rashford
Manchester Metropolis prepared for United to ‘shut hole’ within the Premier League | Soccer information
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