Manchester
City manager, Pep Guardiola, feels Manchester United were still in the title
race, but does not believe Sunday’s Derby is the biggest game of the season.
United
finished second, 19 points behind City last term, but they are seventh going
into the Derby.
The title
race has been billed as a three-team affair with Chelsea and Liverpool, both
three points behind City, also yet to taste defeat in the league.
“No, no,
no,” Guardiola said when asked if Sunday’s Manchester derby was the biggest
game of the season for City.
“Of course
games against contenders are special because if you win, they don’t win, but
it’s November, so maybe the game at Old Trafford [in March] will be more
important.
“Of course
we are on a good run, United as well, it will be like all the games so tight,
no team controls the game for 90 minutes and we have to defend well and attack
like we have in the last games.
“All the
derbies are special, I think in Spain there’s more noise [in the media] than
here, before the game especially, but it’s always special for everybody.
“In our
history of Manchester City it’s hard to beat United and they beat us more times
but it’s a good rivalry and a good chance for three points. We will try especially
to have a good game.
“They are
not out of the race, not in November it’s impossible, no way. They can recover
well like 2-0 v Newcastle, big club, big mentality. Since we arrive we try to
convince to never give up and try again and again it’s why in the last month we
didn’t lose two or three in a row, we are consistent.
“But United
have it themselves, with their history behind them, it’s always there.
November, five or six strong teams, one issue in March and April but now
everything is open, football changes in one week or two weeks.”
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