Pep Guardiola is expecting the best version of Manchester United ahead of this weekend’s Manchester Derby.
City welcome their cross-town neighbours to Eastlands on Sunday as the Premier League champions continue their push for the league title.
The Citizens sit second in the table, a point behind Liverpool, having won 16 of their last 18 games in all competitions. Meanwhile, Manchester United enter the derby in mixed form, having lost last weekend to Fulham before an unconvincing FA Cup win at Nottingham Forest in midweek.
City also have the upper hand in recent meetings, winning five of the last six Manchester Derbies, but Guardiola is expecting the best version of Manchester United to arrive at the Etihad this weekend.
“Always I expect the best from our opponents. Always. I expect the best from Manchester United but I don’t talk about what they do,” Guardiola said at his pre-match press conference.
“As opponents I respect too much and I don’t want any misunderstandings of my words. I have a lot of respect for them and a lot of respect for the institution – United, Erik and the players.”
City thrashed Manchester United 6-3 in the same fixture last season with Erling Haaland and Phil Foden each scoring hat-tricks.
Guardiola was asked on the goalscoring records of that duo in the derby, after each also netted at Old Trafford earlier in the campaign.
“I don’t know what is going to happen and if I knew which players would score goals, then they would play. I am not able, I am a good manager but I am not able to read the future, so I don’t know.”
Guardiola also provided an update on Jack Grealish and confirmed the England winger will miss the clash after suffering a setback in his recovery from injury.
“No, he will not be fit for this weekend. We don’t have an alternative, setbacks in life are always there, it’s how you overcome.”
