In movies we are always served with a hero whose job is to
ensure everything end well, who is very good at being a hero, who is loved and
who catches the girl. Plus a very cunning and evil villain who is non
challantly Impressive at being an evil genius, who hates the hero and is hell
bent on thwarting his every plan. Batman had robin, Superman had Lex Luther.
In football, apart from the Ronaldo,Messi rivalry, one of
the best we have seen yet is the warm and dysfunctional relationship that
exists between Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola.
In this case I like to see them as both Heroes and Villians
in different capacities.It just depends on through which eyes you are seeing each
of them individually from.To some,Guardiola is the holiest saint’ish’ coach who
can do no wrong or the overly disciplined
coach who delights in snubbing players and stepping on players’ toes while
others see Mourinho as the veil genius and Tactician who has a very big
mouth,annnoyigly cocky and has no heart or capacity to feel anything or the
tactical mastermind who is a born winner and can easily segue the fortune of
almost anyone or team from obscurity to the apex of victory.
La Liga enjoyed the Rivalry between these two as El Clasicos where a
must watch blockbuster movie that kept the whole world waiting and anticipating
until kick off. These matches lived up to the hype and served us well. Finesse,
panache, grit, sweat, anger, mindless tackles to mention a few, a cocktail for
sure. And the English premier league has
keyed into the polarizing personalities ,methods and obviously popularity of
these two to the opposite sides of Manchester.
Today, as Jose Mourinho faces off with Pep Guardiola and it
of course is a match that shouldn’t be missed.I can assure you that it would
live up to its billing and hype in recent days.
Enough of the coaches,their power ends pretty much in the
dressing room before the match.Let us talk about the team,players and who I
possibly think would emerge as winner today.
MANCHESTER CITY IN GUARDIOLA’S WAY AND WHAT I THINK
Manchester City parted ways with Manuel Pellegrini as he was
not as dominant in Europe as they desired(winning the champions league was now
a priority).They snapped Guardiola hoping that the jinx would be broken.They
trusted his methods and his CV needs no introduction.
He has come with a blue print to impress his philosophy in
the team. It is evident in the instant disdain at the playing style of a
certain Joe Hart who was all of a sudden, deemed surplus to requirements. Guardiola
needs to have the ball all the time and a sweeper keeper makes that plan easier
to execute,thus Claudio Bravo.
Manchester City’s confidence on the ball have improved
significantly as they prefer to start their attack from the back to the forward
line.They would have much of the ball throughout the match and much of their
goals would rely on how patient they are when the probe and how ruthless they
are when the opportunities come along.Another issue they have to deal with is
the physicality of Manchester United players.With Eric Bailley,Paul Pogba,Zlatan
Ibrahimovic ,fellaini, the Manchester city players would be bossed around
physically to a very large extent.
THE JOSE UNITED AND WHAT I THINK
Arrogance,grit,confidence,panache and hunger encapsulates
the new look United.This team feels reinvigorated and are full of belief.With
an amazing transfer window where they ticked all the boxes required with their
signings,Manchester United is once again a team to reckon with.
Ibrahimovic would be given a tough time for most of the
match as the center backs would hardly give him space to think..
The midfield would have a lot to do and would do a lot of
running because the city midfielders would have the ball for themselves.I for
one am eager to see how Paul Pogba would fare given his amazing skill
set.Fellaini would also be peripheral because he would be in front of the
defense line who would be probed time and again by the City front line.Their
solidity at the back would be key.
In typical Mourinho Version,Manchseter United would sit back
and wait for loopholes to hit City on the counter attack and they have enough
ammunition to take their chances when they come*hello Ibrahimovic*
And yes Marcus Rashford remains Manchester United trump card
and I just have an inkling that he would come in very handy.
Mourinho is a born winner
MY VERDICT
Given Mourinho’s typical defensively organized methods,Manchester
United would be hard to break down,Kun Aguero’s absence,coupled with the fact
that the Manchester United is awash with big names who are no strangers to big
games like this,the game for me is Mourinho’s to lose.
PREDICTED SCORE LINE
Manchester United 3
Manchester City 1
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