Manchester Derby: Erik ten Hag Fires Back at Pep Guardiola Ahead of Old Trafford Showdown

• Erik ten Hag has downplayed Pep Guardiola's mind games ahead of the Manchester derby
• Guardiola had previously indicated that he had a lot of ideas he was planning to use in the derby
• The defending champions will face a completely different side from the one they faced in the first leg

Manchester United Head Coach Erik ten Hag has responded to Pep Guardiola's assertions ahead of their crunch tie on January 14th.

United will lock horns with their cross-town rivals at Old Trafford looking to avenge the heavy 6-3 defeat in the first leg at Etihad.

The Red Devils have been on a steady improvement and this weekend's fixture will provide an ultimate test of their resurgence under ten Hag.

Manchester City meanwhile are yet to impress fully despite managing to keep within touching distance of log leaders Arsenal. They suffered a shock elimination from the Carabao Cup at the hands of Southampton.

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Ridiculous ideas

Speaking last week after the FA Cup tie against Chelsea, Guardiola intimated that he had a lot of ridiculous ideas for the Manchester derby. Ten Hag has now responded by saying his side will stick to their game plans.

"I don't care about that, what he is thinking — he did it more often and we are prepared for that if he does different things. We have our principles, our rules of football," as quoted by Utd Report.

Guardiola has since explained in a different press conference that he was joking about his ideas. A win for Manchester United could blow the title race wide open as ten Hag's charges will move to within a point of City and six points behind Arsenal.

United's steady improvement

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Sports Brief had earlier reported that Manchester United are currently the only English team firmly in four competitions following Man City's elimination from the Carabao Cup.

City, who were the competition's defending champions were sent packing on Wednesday night, January 11, after a 2-0 shock defeat to Southampton.

Two first-half goals from Sekou Mara and Moussa Djenepo were enough to help the Saints see off City in the quarterfinal clash.