It’s the match that could change the entire complexion of the Premier League title race, and thus the narrative of the 2017-18 season as a whole. The Manchester Derby, Old Trafford edition, sees a top of the table clash that could either ignite a true title race, or end it.
Manchester City comes in eight points clear of Manchester United, who will be without their star man, midfielder Paul Pogba.
The Frenchman drew a straight red card for a studs up challenge on Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin last Saturday, earning himself a three match ban that United decided not to challenge.
City come in undefeated in league play and sporting the best record in Premier League competition up to this point. United manager Jose Mourinho is notorious for parking the bus in huge clashes like this, and with Pogba now out of action, might be even more inclined to do so.
Paul Pogba is truly the player that matters the most to when United when to press high and push forward, and that’s what United’s second most expensive player believes his team should do in order to win.
When asked if United will be aggressive in going at City this Sunday, Pogba responded:
“We need to. To win those games you need to give everything. You need to be there offensively, defensively. Kill the game when you have one chance because they are City and they have quality as well in front and they can kill the game at any time.
“They are first for good reason because they have been doing great at the start of the season. They keep winning and they didn’t lose one game and obviously mentally they are very strong.”
Pogba is saying that being defensive and pragmatic is the polar opposite of what Mourinho should do in this blockbuster fixture. It’s tough to disagree, and I guess we’ll find out Sunday if Mourinho heeds this advice.
It really is a go big or go home kind of moment for the Red Devils, so they should truly be all in, guns blazing for this one.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune company’s blogging community Chicago Now.
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