Who: Manchester United vs Manchester City
What: English Premier League
Where: Old Trafford, Manchester, United Kingdom
When: Sunday at 4.30pm (15:30 GMT)
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The Manchester derby has historically been a battle for titles or Champions League qualification.
This season, Manchester United is fighting for pride, while Manchester City’s defense of their Premier League title is already over.
City should secure a top four finish, but for fans of both teams, bragging rights in this intense cross-city rivalry are the top priority.
Al Jazeera provides insight as the two teams vie to dominate Manchester in either red or blue.
Where are Manchester United in their latest rebuilding phase?
Manchester United may have ambitions to win the Premier League title in three years, but manager Ruben Amorim admitted that major changes are necessary for the club to be competitive in the near future.
United is on track for their worst Premier League finish, currently sitting 13th in the standings after 30 games, and facing a tough task against City in the derby.
Despite the club’s plans to reclaim the title within three years, Amorim acknowledged that significant work is needed to improve the squad and become genuine contenders.
“I understand that it will take time. I know we won’t be immediate contenders in the next year or two,” Amorim stated.
He emphasized the need to bring in “one or two big players,” but also recognized the pressure to deliver results quickly in the modern era.
What was the score in the previous match?
United secured a 2-1 victory in the December match at Etihad Stadium.
Although it was a memorable win early in Amorim’s tenure, he focused on the larger goal of improving the team’s overall performance and league position.
“We want to improve in the league table and win games. Our full focus is on this upcoming game,” Amorim said.
What is Manchester City’s reaction to De Bruyne’s departure?
City manager Pep Guardiola praised Kevin De Bruyne as one of the greatest midfielders in Premier League history after the Belgian announced his departure from the club at the end of the season.
Guardiola highlighted De Bruyne’s significant contributions to City’s success over the past decade and acknowledged his impact on the team’s achievements.
Despite the bittersweet emotions surrounding De Bruyne’s departure, Guardiola expressed gratitude for the midfielder’s influence and dedication.
What does Guardiola think De Bruyne’s legacy will be?
When asked about the possibility of a statue honoring De Bruyne at the stadium, Guardiola affirmed that the midfielder deserves such recognition for his exceptional contributions to the club.
“Saya akan bertaruh banyak uang bahwa itu akan terjadi,” kata Guardiola.
De Bruyne telah melakukan 20 penampilan di liga musim ini setelah cedera pada bulan September dan masalah kebugaran.
Setelah kampanye yang sulit bagi City, mereka masih memiliki semifinal Piala FA melawan Nottingham Forest pada 26 April, dengan kompetisi tersebut memberikan De Bruyne kesempatan untuk menambahkan lebih banyak trofi ke lemari trofinya.
City juga akan bermain di Piala Dunia Klub 32 tim di Amerika Serikat, yang berlangsung dari 14 Juni hingga 13 Juli.
Ditanya apakah De Bruyne akan tampil di Piala Dunia Klub, Guardiola berkata: “Saya tidak tahu. Dia harus memutuskan. Piala Dunia Klub ini baru dengan kontrak … Klub harus berbicara dengannya atau dia harus mengatakan apa yang ingin dia lakukan.
“Tiga pertandingan pertama berada di bawah kontrak hingga 30 Juni, tetapi setelah itu, jika kita lolos, saya tidak tahu … Semoga dia bisa terus bermain sepak bola di tempat lain – itu tergantung pada risiko kontrak dan masa depan.”
Head-to-head
Ini adalah derby Manchester ke-174, di mana United telah memenangkan 68 dan City 56.
Berita tim Man Utd
Kobbie Mainoo bisa kembali ke gelandang United setelah dua bulan absen karena cedera betis.
Matthijs de Ligt mengalami cedera ringan melawan Nottingham Forest dan diragukan.
Ayden Heaven, Jonny Evans, Lisandro Martinez, dan Luke Shaw semuanya pasti absen dari pertandingan.
Berita tim Man City
City akan tanpa striker Erling Haaland. Pemain asal Norwegia itu mencetak dua gol dalam kunjungannya terakhir ke Old Trafford, tetapi cedera pergelangan kaki akan membuatnya absen hingga akhir musim.
Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake, Rodri, dan John Stones tetap absen.
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