This Sunday’s Manchester derby, airing live on Sky Sports, is poised to be a pivotal clash. Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson boldly declares it as “Manchester City’s biggest match,” a statement that might surprise some given City’s recent form. The reigning champions have stumbled, winning only one of their last ten matches across all competitions, including a concerning Champions League defeat to Juventus, leaving their top-24 finish in the league phase in jeopardy. This poor run of form sets the stage for a high-stakes encounter at the Etihad Stadium against a revitalized Manchester United under manager Ruben Amorim.
Amorim’s appointment has injected a renewed sense of energy into the United squad, even if the results haven’t always followed. United are coming off of back-to-back losses to Arsenal and Nottingham Forest, and despite this, Merson sees an opening for an upset. He points to United’s ability to stifle Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium a few weeks prior as evidence of their potential to frustrate City’s usually fluid attack. Merson suggests a front three of Rashford, Diallo, and Garnacho, emphasizing their speed and skill to exploit any defensive vulnerabilities in City’s backline.
However, Merson cautions against underestimating City, even in their current slump. He acknowledges their squad depth and the sheer quality of their players. He notes the significant financial investment in their squad over the years, a level of spending that’s currently unsustainable due to Financial Fair Play regulations. Merson believes that City’s current struggles are less about age and more about a significant dip in confidence. The team, once known for its effortless passing and movement, now seems hesitant and lacking its usual swagger. This unusual dip in form, according to Merson, is something Pep Guardiola hasn’t experienced in decades. He points to Guardiola’s late substitutions against Crystal Palace as a sign of panic, suggesting poor decision-making both on and off the pitch might be contributing to the team’s woes. Furthermore, Merson highlights the absence of Kovacic as a further contributing factor to their midfield struggles; without a key player who can win back possession, they are vulnerable.
Turning his attention to City’s wider outlook, Merson comments on the pressure of maintaining success after achieving numerous trophies. He acknowledges that such a consistent run of wins is hard to sustain. He praises Guardiola’s focus on moving forward, game by game, but stresses the importance of building momentum. Despite their Champions League setbacks, Merson believes that City will recover. He sees them successfully navigating their group stage and advancing to the knockout round. However, he doesn’t anticipate their usual second-half season surge. Recent games, he observes, indicate that City are no longer intimidating opponents in the same way as before, with their rivals showcasing a willingness to press aggressively.
Meanwhile, Merson examines the situation at Manchester United. He suggests that Amorim is still in the process of identifying his most reliable players, a crucial task for rebuilding the team’s consistency. He expresses concern about Marcus Rashford’s high wages, questioning whether any club would be willing to pay such a high price for the star player. He feels that the situation speaks volumes about United’s struggles, adding further fuel to the anticipation for an intriguing showdown.
