Guardiola Claims City Have Plans for United in Manchester Derby

• The second Manchester derby of the season is coming up this weekend at Old Trafford
• City won the first derby but United have hit form since after the World Cup, winning all games
• Pep Guardiola has now revealed there is a plan in waiting to deal with their rivals on Saturday

Erik Ten Hag was only a few games into his Manchester United reign as manager when Manchester City hammered his team 6-3 at the Etihad Stadium, with Erling Haaland and Phil Foden bagging hat-tricks.

After 17 games into the season, only four points separate the two sides with United having won their four Premier League games since the league resumed after the Qatar 2022 World Cup break.

The two sides are set for a second league meeting and City boss Pep Guardiola has confirmed he has a plan in waiting to deal with his former assistant at Bayern Munich once again.

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Guardiola reveals plan for United

The Red Devils are obviously a better side tactically according to Coaches Voice, than they were the last time the Citizens dismantled them earlier in the season, and despite their improvement Pep confirms there is a plan.

Speaking ahead of the Carabao Cup match against Southampton tonight, as quoted by the Independent, the 51 year old claimed he has ridiculous ideas on how to approach the derby.

“I would like to arrive against United with the average of minutes in the legs of the players quite similar, because I have a few ideas, thoughts – ridiculous ones – against United, but still I didn’t watch the last games,” he said.

He also revealed the plans are flexible and will depend on how he analyses United after their 3-0 over Charlton as he has not had the opportunity of watching them recently.

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“I have to see the way they [United] play at home and if they changed something. I still have to review it. That is why I don’t have a clear line-up against United. These ones [against Southampton and United], it also depends on those who didn’t play against Chelsea.” he added.

Pep hints Haaland Alvarez partnership

Sports Brief earlier reported that Pep Guardiola said Haaland, and Alvarez can play together after the frustrating draw against Everton, where he brought on the World Cup winner to pair the Norwegian up front.

The two players are different profiles of a striker, with Alvarez being able to also play as a winger or play off another striker as a second striker.

The Manchester derby could be a perfect opportunity for the Spanish tactician to unleash the two on United's World Cup winning centre back duo of Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez.