Game Of The Weekend: Man Utd Vs Man City

Victory over rivals Manchester City in their Premier League clash on Sunday is a must for Manchester United, says Phil Jones.

“I’m happy that we are more balanced in our selection”.

Zabaleta now hopes United will feel the full force of City’s power.

Aguero has played a key part in City’s recent run of six wins from their last eight derbies.

What does Van Gaal want in Manchester United’s displays?

But such thrills were in meagre supply throughout 90 minutes contested by two of the most expensively assembled starting XIs in Premier League history, with United failing to register a single shot in the first half for the first time in over a decade. They hit their nadir as they were overpowered in their last derby against United at Old Trafford in April, losing 4-2.

“It was a penalty but the referee was not giving us that benefit and of course it is hard to see”, the Dutchman said.

Bouncing back from a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Arsenal, the Red Devils thrashed Everton with the same scoreline last week.

“Maybe that was one of the reasons for the important reaction of the team and why we won the last six games”.

“When you look at the facts they are first and we are second or third, they are the favourites I think”.

This was something Sir Alex Ferguson understood implicitly and, quite frankly, so too should Van Gaal after bossing countless fiery local affairs in Holland, Spain and Germany. It’s a big step when we win, that’s true, but you also have to continue. We are two creative teams but we could not do it today.

Van Gaal is fully aware of the significance of the fixture to the city’s football fans, but he will not get caught up in the excitement of the occasion.

The arrival of Anthony Martial has certainly electrified proceedings of late, adding a few sorely needed end product to the ponderous assembly of safe passes that United are frequently guilty of hypnotising themselves with, but Van Gaal would be unwise in the extreme to rely on the 19 year old to singularly provide it this weekend.

“You have your opinion – write it. I don’t give any more answers about Wayne Rooney”. I live in a little village and there it is also the talk of the town.

The tales of signing Robinho and Elano took a massive twist when City ended up signing Carlos Tevez, who promptly helped Manchester City to their first Premier League title.

Not in a derby, a game that always necessitates its own unique narrative and rules; a game that would keep even Kent Brockman glued to the edge of his seat.