Five Keys To The Midweek Manchester Derby In The EFL Cup
It's a midweek Manchester Derby with many intriguing aspects to the encounter beyond the typical vitriol.
By David Cartlidge
A Manchester Derby. Midweek. Both teams out of form. Pep and Mou in their own states of self-reflection? Maybe not much more needs to be said as the picture has painted itself. But nonetheless, here are the five keys to this Manchester Derby with a twist.
Pep’s five game winless streak, one game from his worst run EVER
The honeymoon period is official over for Pep. After an emphatic start of winning his first ten games in charge, City have taken quite the hit. Now it’s more rough, and not so smooth, their response will be intriguing. The last time Pep went five games without a win in all competitions was March 2009 with Barcelona - he’s never gone six.
City were exposed at the back by Celtic in their 3-3 draw, then Spurs really carved up Pep’s setup in the first real test for the former Barcelona boss. Everton then dug in and earned a draw, before Barca battered City in Pep’s homecoming. At the weekend, it was Southampton’s turn to frustrate the Citizens. Pep faces his first ‘crisis’ at City, and how he positions himself in opposition to it could determine how the season pans out from here on in.
The reaction of Manchester United to their stunning 4-0 loss at Chelsea
It was billed as Mourinho’s great return to his former hunting ground. There were even smiles and handshakes before with a few old friends. But Mourinho was the glummest man in England after the game. Antonio Conte’s men completely ripped apart a slow, predictable United side and suddenly Mourinho looked not-so special. It was a hammering in the most traditional sense, and reactions to a performance like that always go some way to determining the character of a squad.
The team could well do with freshening up in several areas, with Luke Shaw, Anthony Martial and perhaps even Michael Carrick set for recalls. Meanwhile, as for the Mourinho, he may go into his shell, become isolated and push his players away - reports of such a thing have already emerged. Or once again, he may come out fighting in the manner he does best. All guns blazing. United alone are a fascinating watch in this one.
Mourinho and Pep’s tactical battle will prove decisive
There have been many fascinating aspects to this great managerial rivalry over the years, but the tactical jousting has often been the key one. Guardiola is seen as the innovator, someone who looks to revolutionize. Mourinho meanwhile is more pragmatic, and less fluid in terms of a tactical master. The gears of his times grind rather than rotate cleanly. The Portuguese is coming under great pressure to change his ways with United, with questions being asked whether his approach is dated and needs something in the way of a new twist.
As for Guardiola, while his philosophy may be questioned, his commitment to it is unwavering. His training methods, more aggressive and intensive than Manuel Pellegrini’s, are clearly impacting on players - some for the good and others bad. Pep must be prepared for Mourinho to recreate his system from the Liverpool draw, in which United dug in and frustrated Jurgen Klopp’s men. Will Pep break down that wall, or bang his head against it?
All eyes on Wayne Rooney…again
Will he or won’t he? Wayne Rooney was deemed unfit to play at the weekend, but did perform superbly against Fenerbahce last week. He was inspirational as center forward, and put in a stirring performance you’d associate with a younger Rooney. His fitness was in question that night and he pulled through, and the case is the same for this clash.
The England striker’s knock isn’t fully recovered but he could play through the pain. United might need him too. Zlatan Ibrahimovic has fell off ever so slightly after a blistering start to life in Manchester, and needs a rest - or dropping altogether. Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial also wait in the wings, but some old fashioned bluster from Rooney could well be just the tonic for this type of night.
The man in the middle, Mike Dean
As with every Manchester Derby, it’s going to be a feisty one. The man in the middle will have an unenviable task of controlling those on the pitch, and making sure those off it don’t influence too much. Dean has shown 34 yellow cards and one red in the Premier League this season, the sole dismissal being United loanee Adnan Januzaj in Sunderland's defeat to Spurs. Dean was in charge for United's win over Leicester last month, and again in City’s thrashing of Stoke City.
In both games, his most notable call was to hand both Manchester sides penalties. Dean has also taken charge of Manchester Derbies in the past. He officiated City's 2-1 win at United in 2013 and oversaw their FA Cup semifinal win over United in 2011. You can also throw in the 2010 League Cup semifinal first leg. It’s an interesting appointment, and a name Mou might well bring up at full-time if things haven’t gone his way.