Manchester City facing mounting injury problems ahead of Man Utd derby clash
MANCHESTER CITY look set to have to face their first derby clash of the season against Manchester United without two of their key players.
Left-back Gael Clichy looks unlikely to take part in all important clash this Sunday, suffering with a leg knock that kept him out of the club's Champions League victory against Viktoria Plzen.
The Citizens have been providing round the clock treatment in a bid to have Clichy back in action for the weekend but new reports indicates he's behind David Silva and Micah Richards for injury come-backs.
It will mean Aleksandar Kolarov could start in the left-back position again, having started in the postion against Plzen.
Captain Vincent Kompany has made his return from injury and has revealed he won't take the task of facing the Premier League champs lightly.
"Until now the derby was not a priority at all but obviously now it is the next game," Kompany said.
"We will make sure we are in the right condition for the game.
"It is a special game. It is becoming one of the most sought-after fixtures in the world and it is always great to be involved in such games. I never take them for granted."
Manchester derby: Striker focus
Ex-City striker Uwe Rosler runs the rule over Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko, Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney ahead of Sunday's Manchester derby.
Uwe Rosler still refers to the royal ‘we’; the ‘we’ being his beloved Manchester City. And no-one is more excited about Sunday’s first derby of the season than the former Blue and current Brentford boss.
After all, he played in enough cross-city clashes to know what the game means to Mancunians. Brentford boss Rosler also scored in a number of matches, including an FA Cup fifth round tie at Old Trafford in 1996.
However, in every instance the German star finished on the losing side. Goals from Eric Cantona and Lee Sharpe securing a 2-1 win 17 years ago.
“Not quite true,” he chides, “I played in Paul Lake’s testimonial (in 1997) which we won. You count every one against United. Just saying,” he laughs.
“Seriously, the derbies were always the highlight of the season. I was privileged enough, when I first came to Maine Road on loan in March 1994, one of the games I played in was against United.
“It was an unbelievable
feeling and over the years, I really discovered what it meant to the people.
“At that time we were a club for the people from Manchester while United was already a club with a global following. Unfortunately, the wish we had at that time, to make our fans happy and proud by beating United, we couldn’t achieve.
“But all the games I played in were very close and seemed to be settled by one goal.”
Rosler, scored three times for City against the Reds. And in an exclusive interview for M.E.N Sport, Rosler runs the rule over the current crop of derby hit men.
SERGIO AGUERO
Born: June 2, 1988
Nationality: Argentinean
Fee paid: £38 million
Appearances/goals: 73 (20), 49
FOR me, he is a top class player; one of the best strikers in the league.
Keeping him fit, keeping him healthy is absolutely crucial if we want to be challenging for honours because last season he missed a number of games.
In terms of his low centre of gravity, Sergio can play against taller defenders because of his ability to turn them. He also has great, explosive pace over the first few metres plus fantastic technique allowing him to protect the ball, to dribble and to shoot with right and left foot.
He also has a great willingness to work for the team and shows a desire to get on the ball in tight areas. We need those qualities week in, week out so, hopefully, Aguero can stay fit.
It’s important too the new players, like Navas and Negredo, are given time to settle. The manager also needs time to learn about English football. The team is balanced but is probably dependent on Vincent Kompany staying fit.
EDIN DZEKO
Born: March 17, 1986
Nationality: Bosnian
Fee paid: £27 million
Appearances/goals: 66 (47), 42
AGAINST Newcastle at the start of the season I thought Edin looked more confident and more mobile.
He didn’t score but he was very much included in the play from the whole team.
Last season, I guess and judging by his body language as well, the chemistry between him and the manager (Roberto Mancini) was not always of the optimum.
I am sure that would have affected his confidence in his general play.
Edin, I think, has already said this season in an interview that he feels like a new player, he feels confident and he feels he has the support of the new manager.
Strikers need that confidence from a manager.
If they go for a certain spell without scoring any goals, they still need to be playing and still be the focal point of what the team is trying to do.
When Edin gets that confidence I think he can deliver for City what is needed.
ROBIN VAN PERSIE
Born: August 6, 1983
Nationality: Dutch
Fee paid: £24 million
Appearances/goals: 46(8 sub), 36
ROBIN was the perfect signing for United and the catalyst for them in winning the title last season.
He delivered from day one. His finishing skills and his quality, in terms of his movement and technique, are unbelievable.
United kept him fit for the whole of last season and that will be crucial for any success United have in the future.
It doesn’t matter if you are a World Cup player or a League One player, you need to be consistently training to get the best out of you.
Van Persie has been outstanding for United and before that for Arsenal.
But for Holland at the big tournaments, he has not really fired and performed to the way that he does in the Premier League.
And for any player who wants to be known as a world star, you have to do it domestically, in the Champions League but also in the biggest tournaments for your country.
WAYNE ROONEY
Born: October 24, 1985
Nationality: English
Fee paid: £25 million
Appearances/goals: 363(43), 200
IT would have been madness and made no sense to let Rooney go, especially to one of their direct competitors.
Wayne is playing in a different position than he was for five or six years but he is such a class player he can adapt.
Again, it’s important to keep him fit and in regular game action, then he will perform to his best. David Moyes though did a fantastic job to stay strong and firm and not allow Rooney to go.
It’s important for a team to have a strong strike force like Van Persie, Rooney, Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez if they want to retain their title.
But I am not going to tell you what David Moyes should or shouldn’t do. I have a great relationship with him and did a lot of good business last season loaning some of his players. I might be coming for a few more this season!
What I will say is that world class players have no problems playing with each other.
Spanish giants plot sensational Man City swap deal
Real Madrid are ready to offer Karim Benzema and Sami Khedira in exchange for Manchester City forward Aguero, according to reports from the Daily Star.
The Spanish giants are believed to be desperate to add a top quality centre forward to their side to accompany the attacking threats of Gareth Bale, Isco and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Carlo Ancelotti is thought to be unconvinced by Benzema and has been linked with a move for Liverpool’s Luis Suarez.
However, it has now emerged that Aguero is the Italian’s top target, and he is ready to make a stunning move for the Argentine.
Both Khedira and Benzema are believed to be surplus to requirements at the Bernabeu after another big spending summer.
The duo have been linked with moves to Arsenal and Manchester United, but instead of selling Real are keen to use them to tempt City to sell their talismanic forward.
Aguero has become an icon at the Etihad Stadium for his Premier League winning goal in 2011/12, but the Spaniards are keen to take advantage of the Sky Blues’ wealth of talent in the final third.
Manuel Pellegrini has signed both Alvaro Negredo and Stevan Jovetic and is a fan of Edin Dzeko, which means that competition for a striking role is fierce.
The Manchester derby has produced some exhilarating encounters over the years, matched by some score-lines to relish. Here, we count down some of City’s best victories over the rags …
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2011: United 1 City 6
Even the most optimistic of City fans couldn’t have been expecting this scoreline when the Blues visited Old Trafford in 2011. On a glorious afternoon, Roberto Mancini’s men inflicted a humiliating defeat on Manchester United as they ran rampant on the Reds’ own turf. Mario Balotelli was quick off the mark with the opening goal, and after Jonny Evans was dismissed the Blues couldn’t stop scoring. A second for Balotelli, a Sergio Aguero strike, plus a late goal for David Silva and a brace for Edin Dzeko ensured that neither set of fans would forget this one in a hurry…
1898: City 4 United 0 (John68 to supply photo)
On Boxing Day 1898, City fans received a late Christmas present when the Blues put four past their rivals – then known as Newton Heath. A Second Division fixture that season, it would prove the last derby for four years as City finished Champions to earn promotion to the Football League’s top table. Billy Meredith, Billie Gillespie, George Dougal and Fred Williams completed the scoring.
1994: United 1-1 City – Keane’s revenge
Although not a classic this game is famous for United captain Roy Keane exacting revenge on Alf-Inge Haaland. Keane suffered knee ligament damage three years earlier playing for United against Leeds in which Haaland accused the Irishman of feigning injury. Teddy Sheringham and Steve Howey scored the goals for United and City respectively in the game.
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1926: United 1 City 6
A famous scoreline, but a slightly less famous game. This 6-1 took place on 23 January 1926, with City displaying the pedigree of Champions from the league triumph the previous season. A crowd of 48,000 watched on at Old Trafford as the Blues dealt out a thrashing. Unfortunately, they couldn’t maintain this scintillating form and were relegated to Division Two at the end of the season.
1930: City 4 United 1
Fans arrived at Maine Road for this October 1930 derby hoping to witness only City’s second win of the league season. The Blues made it worth the wait, putting four past Alfred Steward in the Manchester United goal. A brace each for Bobby Marshall and Bobby Tait secured the very welcome points, and sent the Blue half of Manchester home happy. City would go on to finish eighth in the league that season, while rivals United were relegated.
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1955: United 0 City 5
City forward and future England boss, Don Revie, was the star of this match, even though his name didn’t end up on the scoresheet. The hosts had no answer for the Blues’ maestro, who created chance after chance on the frozen pitch. Two goals apiece for Joe Hayes and Paddy Fagan plus one for Johnny Hart ensured the points and plenty of bragging rights accompanied City back to Maine Road.
1969: City 4 United 0
The derby encounter in November 1969 finished 4-0 to the Blues, but it might have been five – Francis Lee had the ball in the net but it transpired that the referee had blown up for half time just moments before the shot. A brace from Colin Bell, a magnificent strike from Neil Young and an own goal ensured City would not rue the decision for long.
1970: United 1 City 4
A fine victory for the Blues at Old Trafford in December 1970 was marred by the injury to Glyn Pardoe. The versatile City man was sidelined for nearly two years after a tackle from George Best broke his leg in the fixture. The visitors were already 1-0 up at that stage thanks to a Neil Young strike, and a special Francis Lee hat-trick reflected City’s dominance. It was current assistant manager, Brian Kidd, who grabbed Manchester United’s consolation goal.
1989: City 5 United 1
More than 43,000 fans packed into Maine Road in September 1989 to see the Blues go 3-0 up by half-time in a derby classic. David Oldfield and Trevor Morley both found the net in the first 13 minutes, sending the City fans into dreamland. Ian Bishop added a third and Oldfield doubled his tally before Andy Hinchcliffe rubbed salt into red wounds with a fifth. Mark Hughes’ solitary strike for United couldn’t console the away supporters who headed for the exits early, but in the home end it was party time.
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2004: City 4 United 1
In the 2003-04 season Manchester United were fighting for the title while City were battling at the other end of the table, but that mattered little when the first derby at the City of Manchester Stadium rolled around in March. Robbie Fowler certainly enjoyed putting the home side ahead after just three minutes, and Jon Macken doubled the advantage before Paul Scholes found the net for the visitors. Trevor Sinclair and Shaun Wright-Phillips added their names to the scoreboard for a stunning victory.
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Noel Gallagher on Manuel Pellegrini, the Manchester derby and Oasis comeback claims
Legendary musician Noel Gallagher joined Jason Cundy and Andy Goldstein on The Sports Bar on Wednesday night to talk all things Manchester City, ahead of this weekend's derby clash with Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium, and also responded to recent reports claiming Oasis could be set for a comeback.
http://talksport.com/football/noel-gall ... 3091960693
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