Guardiola insisted that City's six-goal haul, and the return to form of Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne, will have absolutely no bearing on how his side perform against United. He knows City are at their best when playing the game rather than any occasion, with the temptation to overthink strong ahead of a derby. De Bruyne speaks from personal experience when he remembers the games where United have pulled a derby win out of nowhere, often at the Etihad. Similarly, summer signing Mateo Kovacic has a pragmatic assessment of the threat of United: “We expect a tough opponent and a tough game, as always. Combine that experience and ambition, and it feels like a good mix to have in a dressing room ahead of a must-win derby.

Source: Express March 02, 2024 05:21 UTC