This Sunday’s match up will be 43rd derby in the Premier League era between the two Manchester-based clubs. Of the previous 42 games, United have won 21, to City’s 13 while the remaining eight games ended in draws.
Those, however, were the golden years of Manchester United when City were clearly the underdogs, but with the emergence of the petro-dollars from the middle East, coupled with the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson from Old Trafford, the tables seem to be turning gradually in favour of ‘noisy neighbours’.
Having said that though, it has not been smooth sailing for the blue half of the city against their red rivals. As a matter of fact, the last game between both sides at the Etihad last season ended 3-2 in Manchester United’s favour who came from being two goals down to delay the crowning of City as champions.
As things stand now, City are clear favourites to win Sunday’s game. They were in a league of their own last season, galloping to the title while their closest rival, incidentally, their opponents on Sunday, United finished a distant second. Since then, City have improved their team, adding Riyadh Mahrez among others to a team of an unready formidable squad of players.
ALSO READ: Rooney will not start against USA -Southgate
On the other hand, although United recruited new players, only Fred has been able to have a regular look-in in the Premiership and the jury is still out on whether he has improved the team or made it worse. Mourinho tried to get in a central defender during the summer but Ed Woodward had other ideas. He could not trust Mourinho’s judgement enough to justify him releasing £50m plus, for a central defender when just few months earlier same Mourinho had presented the two players he wanted to replace, Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof as the best central defenders in Europe.
The result of the disagreement between both men is the fact that United now have a very dodgy defence, they have only kept one clean sheet all season. The defence is so bad and lacking in confidence that pundits believe if not for the brilliance of David de Gea, Manchester United will be in a relegation battle this season.
This was also evident in the game against Juventus on Wednesday night. Juve would have been out of reach before half-time if not for his saves but United ended up winning the game 2-1. This will surely give the players added boost for the coming derby. However it could backfire. You don’t want to go into a game with City being overconfident. You have to be at alert every second of the 90 minutes, even then, the way Pep Guardiola has got them playing, you still need to pray for luck because they can hurt you any time.
ALSO READ: Jesus dedicates Man City hat-trick, match ball to his mum
This game points to a Manchester City win, simply because United have been starting games slowly this season and City have been getting off the blocks really quickly and before you know it, they are out of sight and the game has been won even before half-time. But then, you never know with Mourinho and his group of boys, they are so inconsistent they have become unpredictable.
Khun Vichai, rest in peace
Today in Bangkok, the remains of Leicester City FC chairman, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha will be finally laid to rest. The ceremony started last Saturday and it has been ongoing since.
Leicester players attended the opening of the funeral arrangements being sponsored by the Thai royal family. The players went straight to Thailand after their victory over Cardiff City. Demarai Gray who scored the winner, dedicated his goal to the dead chairman. A week earlier, Riyad Mahrez, a former Leicester player who now wears the colours of Manchester City did the same, dedicating his winner against Spurs to his former boss.
The whole of Leicester city has been in mourning ever since it was confirmed that Khun Vichai was among the five people who died when the helicopter crashed outside the King Power stadium on Saturday, October 27, moments after Leicester had played a draw with West Ham. Tributes have since been laid out and spoken out. He was indeed very loved in the city.
In an era of often absentee foreign owners in the Premiership, Srivaddhanaprabha made a difference, he forged close ties with the players, the supporters and the whole community. Leicester is a one-club city and it was important that not only did Srivaddhanaprabha embrace the city as his home, he was also accepted by the people as one of their own.
ALSO READ: Southampton part company with Vice Chairman
One thing that can never be forgotten is the fact that against all odds, Leicester football club won the premiership when he was in charge. He pumped a lot of money into the club and he made everyone happy. That alone would have made him a hero in Leicester, however, he didn’t stop there. He touched practically every part of the city with his generosity. The Leicester Royal Infirmary and the University of Leicester being among the notable institutions that enjoyed his largesse in millions of pounds.
When Leicester won the league in the 2015-2016 season, he rewarded 19 senior players with brand new BMW i8 worth £100,000 each. Small wonder the players see him as their second father. When his death was officially announced, there were reports that coaching staff and first team players burst into tears, they were so down that their next game was postponed. Even when they felt ready to return to the pitch against Cardiff City, Kasper Schmeicheil was still in tears during the one minute silence.
Perhaps the greatest attribute of Vichai, a billionaire who was rated as the fifth richest man in Thailand by Forbes magazine, is the fact that he was very down to earth. He was able to relate to the players, fans and generally everyone who crossed his path as equals and with deserved respect, there were no fake airs about him, he was a genuinely nice guy, according to those who had the honour of meeting him.
He was so good that the King of Bangkok had to rename him Srivaddhanaprabha meaning “light of progressive glory “. Rest in peace Khun Vichai, Leicester, English football and indeed, the world will forever remember you and your good deeds.