Who: Manchester City vs Manchester United
what: premier league football
when: Sunday 3 March 2024, 15:30 GMT
where: etihad stadium, manchester, england
Manchester City manager Josep Guardiola said the Premier League champions were ready to help rivals Manchester United “close the gap” ahead of Sunday's derby match at the Etihad Stadium.
City are one point behind league leaders Liverpool, who travel to Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
United are eight points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa, who have qualified for the Champions League for the fourth time.
Old Trafford's new minority owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, has completed the acquisition of a 27 per cent stake in the club this month, including re-establishing the hierarchy within the club, with the 20-time English champions on the move. He revealed his plan to return to the top. city.
Ahead of Sunday's game, Guardiola admitted that recent changes at United are likely to change things.
“Sir Jim et al know the club's diagnosis. If Sir Jim says it will take a couple of years for them to get there, who am I to say otherwise?'' said the manager.
“I'm sure they will work to close the gap.”
🔴👔 Mikel Arteta
🔵👔 Pep Guardiola
👹👔 Eric ten BarbaraOnly one person can win in February @BarclaysFooty Won the Manager of the Month Award! #PLAwards | Vote 👉 https://t.co/ynFTphsa0X pic.twitter.com/W3cnwW7Jzx
— Premier League (@premierleague) February 29, 2024
After winning the treble last season, City also qualified for the European Super Cup and Club World Cup by the end of 2023.
Guardiola says he knows the era of Manchester's blue side's dominance will come to an end, but he is determined it won't be over anytime soon.
“In the 80s it was Liverpool, in the 90s it was United. And now here we are after all these years, winning seven Premier League titles in the last 11 or 12 years,” he said.
“That's what happened, but for the last 50 or 60 years, there hasn't been a club in one country that dominates and controls everything, so we want to extend what we're trying to do for as long as possible. You will be able to.”
United's premiership battle for Champions League qualification
Although not content with being at the top of the table, United have their own battle to fight and qualifying for the Champions League is their number one priority. Despite last weekend's home defeat to Fulham ending a seven-game unbeaten run, United manager Erik ten Hag remains in a defiant mood.
“We are also progressing well. Our mental state is very good,” he said.
“We've done it before against City and against Liverpool. We'll prepare well. The players are looking forward to it. I can smell it. I'm excited.”
City beat United in last season's FA Cup final, aiming to complete a domestic treble previously achieved only by their rivals in 1999.
United won this match at Old Trafford last season, but suffered a humiliating 6-3 defeat. However, that hasn't been the case this season, with City winning 3-0 in the come-from-behind game in October.
“We need a great day,” Ten Hag admitted. “We love this challenge and are looking forward to taking it on with them. We know that if we want to get results we have to give our all and show team performance. You can do it.”
🗓️ March 3: Manchester United
🗓️ March 6: Champions League Round of 16
🗓️ March 10: Liverpool
🗓️ March 16: FA Cup Quarter Final
🗓️ March 31st: Arsenal
🗓️ April 3: Aston VillaPep Guardiola is looking forward to it @ManCityUpcoming match schedule 💬 pic.twitter.com/2SWB7nLEqt
— Premier League (@premierleague) March 1, 2024
Following the game against United, City have tough league games against title rivals Liverpool and Arsenal, before heading into the final 16-second leg of the Champions League against Copenhagen on Wednesday.
“I prefer that than the other way around,” Guardiola said of the challenges he faces in every competition. “Key players, we have 20 key players. We had our key players out with injuries, but they still performed well.
“I'm very happy to be in the game. They're the best. A chance to get into the Champions League quarter-finals and then at Anfield and against Newcastle United. [in the FA Cup] – We work to get here to live in this moment. ”
form guide
Manchester City's season has picked up pace since winning the Club World Cup in December. Josep Guardiola's side have won 14 of their last 15 games and remain unbeaten in their last 18 games.
United were unbeaten in seven games before Fulham's surprise victory at Old Trafford in the Premier League last weekend. Erik ten Hag's side returned to winning ways with a 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup in midweek.
face to face
The Manchester rivals first met in November 1894 in England's old Division Two. United beat City 5-2 and then won 4-1 in the rematch in January 1985, completing a double against their neighbors.
A total of 190 meetings took place, with United winning 77 and City winning 60.
team news
Manchester City will be without Jack Grealish after sustaining a groin injury in Tuesday's FA Cup game at Luton.
Defender Josko Gvardiol is close to returning from an ankle injury, but the derby is likely to be too soon.
Manchester City expected line-up: Ederson; Kyle Walker, Josh Stones, Ruben Diaz, Nathan Ake. Rhodri. Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva, Julian Alvarez, Jeremy Dok.erling haaland
Manchester United's main absentees are defender Luke Shaw and striker Rasmus Hjølund. Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez and Aaron Wan-Bissaka are also missing from the backline.
Manchester United expected lineup: Andre Onana. Diogo Dalot, Raphael Varane, Jonny Evans, Victor Lindelof. Coby Mainu, Casemiro.Christian Eriksen, Bruno Fernandes, Alejandro Garnacho, Marcus Rashford