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Man City vs Manchester United: Pep Guardiola responds to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s derby taunts
Pep Guardiola responded to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s pre-derby taunt that Manchester United are a bigger club than Manchester City by underscoring his side have been the better one.
Saturday’s visitors to the Etihad are currently 11 points adrift of the defending champions, who have blitzed their way to half of the titles on offer since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013.
United have not been crowned champions of England since then, a period that has seen four different managers at Old Trafford.
They have combined to win the FA Cup, Europa League and League Cup and while that is not the most underwhelming haul, United have lacked a coherent strategy and shredded much of their fear factor.
During the same spell, City have amassed three league titles, an FA Cup and four League Cups.
Under Guardiola’s reign, the club have established themselves as the pre-eminent domestic force and one of Europe’s most feared powerhouses.
“Since we were here, when we analysed at the beginning of the season and the end of the season, we were better than them. We were so consistent in all departments, especially in the last two seasons,” he said.
“Listen, for United’s fans, they’ll always be the biggest club. For the City fans, we’ll always be the biggest club. We love our clubs. Each fan loves their clubs and that’s why they support them. It doesn’t matter if you have a lot of success in the past, it’s part of what they feel.
“Normally, supporters want to see their teams win and win and win. But they support them even in the bad circumstances. I learnt about Manchester City’s history and in the bad, bad moments, the support was almost higher or more louder than, for example, now. So if you’re looking at the trophy cabinet, they [United] are better, no doubts about that. Numbers are numbers and in that situation they’ve lifted more titles than us.
“But we’re trying to be there for as long as possible and for City fans, Manchester City will always be better. Like United fans believe they are better.”
For all the verbal volleys before Saturday’s showdown, there is the acceptance that neither history nor recent form matters for this encounter.
“In a derby, anything can happen,” Guardiola reminded. “We are not here to judge the results or what distance there is between teams or the past or the future. It’s just tomorrow, 5.30pm, the game and try to beat them.
“When we played the day to be champions here against Jose Mourinho, when we lost 2-3, we were incredible in the first half.
“We’ve lost derbies like this – we were better, we had a big points advantage, but 2-0 at half time and it could be 3-4, but we lost the game in 10 minutes. So, derbies are like that.
“Hopefully we can play a good game. In important games you have to be more focused on what you have to do to beat them. What are their qualities and strengths? What are the qualities we have? What do we have to do?
“I think that is the only way I know, as a manager, to approach these kind of games, from my experience. Don’t stress too much, have fun and enjoy – and try to do the best performance possible.”
Guardiola was asked whether United’s squad seem to be playing for Solskjaer, who is under pressure given United have only collected 21 points and with the in-demand Mauricio Pochettino on the managerial market.
“They beat Tottenham, one of the most physical teams along with Chelsea and Liverpool, in the Premier League,” he responded. “I don’t know, I didn’t call the United players and ask them if they played for their manager.
“Honestly, I don’t know. At the end, I say many times, the players play for themselves, not for me. Play to do good performance for yourself and your career, for your families, for something you want to fight for.
“If it’s for the manager, thank you! I don’t know, but obviously when a team fights in the way they fought in that game and doing it until the end, it’s because they believe in what they are doing. Normally, the teams do what the manager says.”
Guardiola is prepping City to guard against United’s breaks, which is their core weaponry.
“It’s clear they are a counter-attacking team,” he said. “They do high pressing and they are aggressive. When they defend deep, of course they attack immediately with [Daniel] James and [Marcus] Rashford. They are so clinical and so good with space to run.
“When I remember the goals against Chelsea at the beginning of the season, most of them were on the counter attack. Against Liverpool, the goal was a counter-attack. They have the quality to do that. Maybe with the time, they can improve attacking teams that defend deep.
“With the quality they have, they are there. Fred’s ability to break the lines with the passes, I think when [Juan] Mata plays they have quality in small spaces, they have a good keeper, good defenders, with [Harry] Maguire and [Victor] Lindelof.
“When I met Lindelof in Benfica it was incredible how good a defender he is. I think the quality of their squad is there.”
On the subject of Maguire, who was pursued by City before he departed Leicester for Old Trafford, Guardiola added: “They paid more than we wanted to pay and he’s there. So I think he’s an exceptional player for United, for the national team, and he decided to go there.”
