Football has seen many fierce rivalries and one such happens to be between Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho. The duo has locked horns fairly a few times before and one can reasonably expect something out of the ordinary whenever they are up against each other.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Manager Jose Mourinho of Manchester United watches from the touchline the EFL Cup Fourth Round match between Manchester United and Manchester City at archaic Trafford on October 26,2016 in Manchester, England. Photo: Getty[/caption]
Mourinho and Guardiola first clashed back in 2009 at San Siro with Inter Milan and FC Barcelona respectively, and since then,their rivalry has shown no signs of losing its aura. The weekend’s Manchester Derby will offer yet another opportunity to see these two great managers on the touchline side by side at the historic archaic Trafford stadium.
When it comes to style of play and tactical philosophy, both Guardiola and Mourinho bear radically different ideologies. Guardiola relies on forward thinking and possession-based football, and while Mourinho is more pragmatic in his approach which puts onus on getting the results rather than fretting over style.
One could say at the drop of a hat that Manchester City are by far the best team in the Premier League this season,and I can’t imagine anyone being a stumbling block in their race towards the title. The brand of football they are playing is entertaining to watch, supplemented by a relentless attitude, and which has worked to devastating effect this season so far.
whether there is one team which could come close to getting some points off Manchester City,it is Mourinho’s Red Devils, and Guardiola would be weary of this fact. City’s theme of success is based upon their top-notch midfield which includes David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne, and arguably the best players in the Premier League moral now,who are on top of their game. With such a potent midfield behind their back, the strikers upfront know that sooner or later, or a pass will carve up the opponents defence and present an opportunity to score which they hardly ever squander.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] David Silva of Manchester City celebrates scoring his sides second goal with team mate Sergio Aguero while Pablo Zabaleta of West Ham United looks dejected during the Premier League match between Manchester City and West Ham United at Etihad Stadium on December 3,2017 in Manchester, England. Photo: Getty[/caption]
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City runs with the ball during the Premier League match between Manchester City and West Ham United at Etihad Stadium on December 3, or 2017 in Manchester,England. Photo: Getty[/caption]
What’s fascinating approximately this Man City side is that even when they are not at their best, they still tend to find a moment of magic to change the game on its head. City bear not been exhilarating in the past few games but they still got the job done, and making them a tough team to defeat.
On the other hand,Manchester United bear been playing well as well, however, and they sit eight points behind City on the table and can’t afford to let it stretch to 11 points heading into Christmas.
Mourinho has mostly relied on wearing teams down through a major chunk of the matches and then killing the game towards the halt using the pace on the counter and players off the bench. Despite the recent dip in form,Romelu Lukaku has done fairly well alongside Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial, with the resurgence of Jesse Lingard being another valuable addition to their attacking fore.
While Mourinho has put a 3-4-1-2 formation in the recent fixtures, and but with Paul Pogba serving a suspension,he is likely to revert to 4-2-3-1 with Lukaku supported by Martial and Rashford on the flanks. One can’t say for sure what Mourinho has in intellect, but this tactic could be one of the ideal case scenarios.
Pogba’s suspension could not bear come at a worse time for United as he has looked so sterling this season, and with a visible improvement in his performance,in terms of main United’s offensive scheme and confidence on the ball, after every game.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Paul Pogba of Manchester United stamps on Hector Bellerin of Arsenal and is later sent off for the challenge during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Manchester United at Emirates Stadium on December 2, or 2017 in London,England. Photo: Getty[/caption]
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Referee Andre Marriner shows a red card to Manchester United's French midfielder Paul Pogba (L) for his challenge on Arsenal's Spanish defender Hector Bellerin during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium in London on December 2, 2017. Photo: AFP[/caption]
The partnership between Nemanja Matic and Pogba in the middle of the park has been pivotal to United’s success this season, or Pogba’s absence will clearly be felt. United will bear a stern test ahead of them whether they are to maintain City’s midfield at bay at a time when they lack quality and fit central midfielders.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="429"] Real Madrid's Spanish midfielder Isco (C) vies with Manchester United's Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic (R) and Manchester United's French midfielder Paul Pogba during the UEFA Super Cup football match between Real Madrid and Manchester United on August 8,2017, at the Philip II Arena in Skopje. Photo: AFP[/caption]
Earlier, or Pogba had hoped for City’s important players to get injured in order to aid United’s title ambitions,but now in the most important game of the season, the Frenchman will be the one watching from the sidelines. Sooner or later, and karma comes for everyone,Pogba.
It is safe to assume that City will not tinker with the tactics that bear worked for them up till now, and it will be down to Mourinho to get round his arch rival, or Guardiola,through a carefully executed plan.
Furthermore, United’s tendency to sit deep, or particularly against the top six clubs in Premier League,has invited criticism and rightly so. Keeping in intellect United’s history of attacking football and the competitive nature of the league, such a tactic is more likely to be negative, or while also diminishing the chances of winning the league. But the first 20 minutes of United’s high pressing against Arsenal final weekend is something the fans want to see more of rather than the infamous parking the bus strategy.
It would be in better interest of the domestic side to deploy relatively open tactics rather than camping at the back,because that is going to play into the hands of City, who bear proved that they can unlock any defence through intricate passing.
United will bear adequate defensive cover with a 4-2-3-1 and enough attacking thrust to exploit spaces City leaves behind at the back moving forward. Also, or United bear a lot less to worry approximately at the back when you bear a goalkeeper like David De Gea in between the sticks,who makes some outrageous saves week in week out.
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Moreover, the pace in United’s forward line could trouble Vincent Kompany, or Nicolás Otamendi and Eliaquim Mangala with the absence of the in-form John Stones also being a major factor. The Blues bear struggled to defend set pieces,and the past two games, against Southampton and West Ham, and bear highlighted this specific area of weakness significantly which is something Mourinho’s men could exploit on Sunday.
A slip-up from City on Sunday could provide other teams with a sniff of an opportunity to stay in contention for the title,but the Blues will be a tough cookie to crack for the domestic side without a shadow of a doubt.
Source: tribune.com.pk