Manchester derby is all about points not coaches
Print Edition
IF the first Manchester derby of the season was excessively dominated by the focus on a fascinating coaching rivalry, today’s encounter is strictly business.
This time, few care about the Pep Guardiola-Jose Mourinho head-to-head records or their previous meetings in La Liga.
The stakes are high — City is fourth in the English Premier League, just a point ahead of United. Both clubs are desperate to ensure a top-four finish and UEFA Champions League football next season and today’s clash at the Etihad Stadium will be influential in determining how the pair end their campaigns.
“This is about the clubs, the teams, this is about the positions at the end of the season. This is not about myself and Guardiola. I think now that is the correct approach,” Mourinho said.
Still, given their stature, it is impossible for the two coaches to be fully out of the picture.
Guardiola’s first campaign at City risks ending in the worst EPL finish for the club in seven seasons. City has not ended a campaign out of the top four since coming fifth in 2011 under Roberto Mancini.
Sunday’s extra-time defeat by Arsenal in the FA Cup semifinal saw the last chance of silverware disappear after City’s loss to Monaco in the UCL last 16.
United, which lost 1-2 in the first league meeting with City, has steadily progressed under Mourinho. It has already lifted the League Cup and is 23 league games unbeaten while in line for more silverware — and a UCL place — through the Europa League where it is in the last 4.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
