Louis van Gaal: Manchester City are derby favourites

Man Utd have won 17 of their 23 Premier League home games under Louis van Gaal (74%), conceding just 16 goals (D3 L3).

The clash: Manchester City v. Manchester United.

De Bruyne’s last game at Old Trafford came in August 2013, in a 0-0 draw with Chelsea that was to be his last league start for the London club.

One fan is holding out hope that Louis van Gaal opts for a blockbuster move.

With the comments that LVG has made backed by the deep pockets of the Glazer family, anything’s possible. They’re the Premier League equivalent of the Uruguay rugby team – without the bottle. Adding to the pressure for Big Sam is the fact that Sunderland have won five-straight derbies and two of the last three managers at the Stadium of Light have lost their opening game in charge but then beat Newcastle in a derby in their second game in charge. “There is a goals difference, a points difference so they are the favourites, I think”.

“But with this Manchester United team I don’t know if there are any players – apart from Martial – whose name you look at on the teamsheet and say “he can hurt us if we give him too much time”.

Victory will see City leapfrog their neighbours and overtake leaders Arsenal at the top of the Premier League, and Zabaleta said the club’s financial muscle has – and will – continue to be key to them winning trophies.

City’s greatest asset seems to be their counter attacking ability, in particular from the speed on the wings provided by Raheem Sterling, Kevin De Bruyne and Jesus Navas. “We need to win and play well and play like we did against Everton because against them we were superb all over the pitch”, he told MUTV. “In the consistency, he has surprised me, but in terms of his ability, no. Because we have known already for a long time he can do it”, Van Gaal said, as quoted by the Mirror.

“That is the same for the other players we have bought but they have to adapt to our philosophy and that is a big positive that he is adapting very quickly but he has to adapt more and develop more”.

For both City and United – founded, respectively, by a pair of church wardens and a group of railwaymen in the latter part of the 19th century – it was a reminder of the extraordinary reach that they now exert.

Manuel Pellegrini’s side have scored in each of their last 18 league games. Now hopefully we can put in a good performance on Sunday and win the game.

“In midfield you can read the game and that is why you have more space to play football”. This is the talk of the town where the city is divided between the blue or red color.