Winless in the past four Manchester derbies, the red half of town has felt the ground move beneath its feet. In relation to this high profile fixture, the ascendency, momentum, impetus – call it what you will, firmly sits with the ‘noisy neighbours’, to quote one of Sir Alex Ferguson’s most provocative and memorable barbs.
Louis van Gaal has turned the fortunes of his side around, while Manuel Pellegrini has struggled to regain the fear factor which has seen teams all but roll over before a ball is kicked. Yaya Toure and Vincent Kompany, comfortably City’s best players in the domestic title winning years, are two of the most notable examples of players performing well under expectations in recent memory.
Similarly so, the influence of Pablo Zabaleta has been negated, as teams can now implement strategies to successfully Argentinian to ensure overloads cannot be created. David Silva, whose campaign has been halted by injury has failed to get back up to speed, while Samir Nasri has reportedly fallen out with the club after being dropped for last month’s fixture at Leicester’s Liberty Stadium.
City’s class saw it just fall over the finish line in 2011/12 to claim its first league title in 44 years, only bettered by a two-point triumph at the end of the 2013/14 campaign. On both occasions, City had to rely on extraordinary collapses.
Firstly, Manchester United famously let an eight point lead with six games remaining, before Liverpool, who won 11 games straight, succumbed to a 2-0 defeat at home to Chelsea before throwing away a 3-0 lead to draw at Crystal Palace.
How can a team that has spent over £1million per Premier League point since 2008, won only two Premier League titles by the skin of their teeth?
The problem for City has been the trend of open top bus parades one year, managerial casualty the next. Whether swinging the axe was needed or not, this uncertainty that constantly shrouds the top job has created a culture of expected, and instant success.
The Sky Blues at their very best, rips teams apart like a clearly superior boxer, two weight classes above its opponent. A forward line with all the requisite power and predatory instincts (Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko, Stefan Jovetic) has been complemented by razor sharp playmakers with a sledgehammer in midfield if all else fails to open the opposition’s door. The sledgehammer is of course, Toure.
The Ivorian’s usual combination of brute force, grace and an unerring sense of where the goals are, has been missing of late. His consolation strike against Crystal Palace provided a glimpse of his talent, but it was only his second goal in the year 2015 – the other coming against Sunderland on New Years Day.
Van Gaal’s men find themselves in a considerably better moment, and can push four points clear of its arch rival with a win at Old Trafford on Sunday. Absolutely unfathomable, with the criticism of the Dutchman’s managerial skills still in recent memory. There was even talk of van Gaal being sacked – how times change.
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A loss for Pellegrini’s squad leaves the ever-increasing possibility that this Manchester derby will be the Chilean’s last, giving United the added motivation of destabilising the swanky neighbours furthermore.
Wayne Rooney’s impressive form of late gives the host a major boost. The shackles have been broken off, so to speak, as United’s once-stagnant midfield takes a far more dynamic shape. Ander Herrera is finishing the season like a steam-train, or a Yaya Toure earlier this decade.
The Red Devils find itself in an odd position, one that it has not found itself in since before City’s trophy winning years. The noisy neighbours are on the ropes.
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