The Manchester Derby is here! Solskjaer can take on Guardiola, will he do it again this time?

Already on Saturday at 13:30 the derby for the second biggest city in England will be on fire. Manchester United will challenge Manchester City and the duel offers an extremely interesting spectacle. Who will be more successful?

The duel itself promises a great plot. But the mini battles on the pitch will be extremely interesting. Cristiano Ronaldo will face off against his Portuguese national teammate and Citizens stopper Ruben Dias. In the centre of the pitch, one of the two best playmakers in the Premier League, Bruno Fernandes and Kevin de Bruyne, will face off.

It will also be interesting to see two great friends from Manchester City’s youth, Phil Foden and Jadon Sancho, if the latter makes it. It will also be interesting to see how the Red Devils stoppers, led by Harry Maguire, cope with Pep Guardiola’s style of containing the false nine.

And last but not least, a duel between two coaches. While Pep Guardiola is recognized as one of the best coaches in the world, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is not popular even among his fans who want him gone. But the Norwegian coach knows how to take on the Spanish strategist.

Last time we saw the Manchester derby on March 7, 2021, United won 2-0 at their rivals’ ground, with goals from Fernandes and Shaw. In the EFL Cup two months earlier, the Citizens celebrated promotion, while in the league, a goalless draw in December was born.

The previous season, however, Solskjaer notched a winning double over Guardiola. The Red Devils first beat the Citizens at the Etihad Stadium 2-1, celebrating a 2-0 win in the home rematch. In the EFL Cup semi-final, Manchester City won the first leg 3-1, United won the return leg 1-0. Guardiola dominated the first meeting between the two coaches by 2:0.

The overall balance, however, goes in Solskjaer’s favour. He faced Guardiola in 8 clashes, leaving 4 as a winner, once a draw and three times the Spaniard was delighted.

Cristiano Ronaldo also has a good record against Manchester City. He has played a total of 14 duels against the Citizens at Manchester United and Real Madrid, leaving as a winner nine times. Twice he has experienced a draw and only three times has he left a match as a loser. He also scored 5 goals and 3 assists.

It is on him that Red Devils fans and Solskjaer will rely. It is the Portuguese phenomenon who has kept the Norwegian coach on the bench, United at the top of the Champions League group and also in contention for the top of the Premier League.

Although there is talk of United being in a major crisis and Solskjaer not being the right coach, and conversely Citizens having no competition, the gap in the league is just 3 points. The blue team has accumulated 20 points, the red one has 17. However, this difference can be erased on Saturday afternoon.

Source: Transfermarkt, Livesport