Three players qualify for the FA Cup unscathed, but Erik ten Hag has limited options for Derby
Manchester United are expected to be without eight of their first-team stars for Sunday's derby against Manchester City.
Bruno Fernandes, Raphael Varane and Casemiro were part of Wednesday's narrow 1-0 FA Cup win over Nottingham Forest, and Erik ten Hag expects the trio to face the Premier League champions.
But Harry Maguire, Rasmus Hjylund, Luke Shaw, Lisandro Martinez, Mason Mount and Aaron Wan-Bissaka will all be absent from United's toughest games of the season.
Ten Hag told reporters: "(Varane and Fernandes) were involved (against Forest) and they got through the game well. I think they will be available on Sunday." I don't think the players will be back on Sunday.
This leaves Ten Hag with limited options in both defense and midfield. Sofian Amrabat started at left-back for Forest, while Victor Lindelof played as central defender. Johnny Evans might come in.
Christian Eriksen is likely to start in midfield, with Scott McTominay looking to win ahead of impressive youngster Koby Mainu.
Manchester United's predicted starting lineup: Onana. Dalot, Varane, Evans, Lindelof. Mainu, Casemiro. Eriksen, Fernandes, Garnacho, Rashford
Injuries: Maguire, Hoylund, Shaw, Martinez, Mount, Wan-Bissaka, Malasia, Martial.
Date and time: Sunday, March 2, 2024, 3:30pm (GMT)
Venue: Etihad Stadium
City won 3-0 at Old Trafford in October and are now 15 points clear of United. Both teams are in good form, with second-placed City unbeaten in 18 years and United with just one defeat in 2024.
Guardiola said: ``What I learned from the experience of games like this is to be more calm and relaxed and not to talk as much.''
"Focus on the tactics and what you have to do to beat them, not on the emotions, because the emotions are definitely there."
This will be Sir Jim Ratcliffe's first derby since he became part-owner of United and said he would "kick City out of the league" within three years.
City have won five of the last six Premier League titles.
"In the 80s it was Liverpool, in the 90s it was United, and now we have won the Premier League seven times in the last 11 or 12 years," Guardiola said. "But for 50 or 60 years, there hasn't been a country where one team dominated and controlled everything all the time. We're going to continue to do this within this organization for many years to come. We will try to expand as much as possible."
"Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his associates know the diagnosis for their club. They know nothing about this club."
"If they say they need two or three years to stay there, who am I to say otherwise?"
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Chris Sutton's prediction: "If it works for City, they might be able to walk away with it."
"The way we're doing, we're on the right track," United manager Erik ten Hag said on Thursday. The spirit is very good and we are united. Now we have to have a good game plan.
"We're going to prepare well, but the players are looking forward to it and I can smell it. I'm excited."
"We know we have to give our all and show team performance."
There will be further commentary on the match on BBC Radio 5 Live on Sunday. The build-up will begin at 12:00 GMT at the Etihad Stadium. Manchester City winger Jack Grealish was ruled out after sustaining a groin injury in Tuesday's FA Cup match against Luton.
Josko Gvardiol is close to returning from his ankle injury, but this game may be too soon for him. Manchester United manager Ten Hag does not expect any players to return from injury on Sunday.
Bruno Fernandes and Raphael Varane are expected to be available again after a flawless win at Nottingham Forest on Wednesday despite fitness issues.
Who is doing well? Manchester United lost 2-1 at home to Fulham last weekend, but bounced back with a last-minute win over Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup.
This game is the Cottage's only loss in the nine games played in 2024. They are three points behind fifth-placed Tottenham, a position that could determine their place in next season's Champions League.
As is often the case in the second half of a season, City are in great form. They are unbeaten in 18 games in all competitions, winning 16 of them.
They go into the weekend one point behind leaders Liverpool and are aiming for a second successive treble.
Josep Guardiola's side came into the match coming off a memorable 6-2 win over Luton in the FA Cup, with Erling Haaland scoring five goals to take his tally for the season to 27. City have conceded 26 goals in the Premier League this season, more than title rivals Liverpool and Arsenal, while scoring 59 goals, fewer than the other two teams.
Former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha said: ``When it comes to the old style of defending and things like that, it's as bad as City.''
"But they are three goals worse than Arsenal, but Arsenal have had a great attacking season in that context and I would say they are very competitive."
"As a defender, instead of thinking 'I'm going to hang in there so I can get a clean sheet', I just want to be on the pitch knowing my team can score goals and win games."
Former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas wonders if United had a clearer game plan under Ole Gunnar Solskjær than Erik ten Hag .
"We had some good big games against Ole. "At least we saw a plan with good defense, good breaks and good counter-attacks, which is exactly what Man United don't have at the moment," he said.
"I don't have the impression that they are a solid team at the moment. Just looking at the counter-attack that Fulham had against them and the way they executed them has been ringing alarm bells for a very long time."
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