Amorim's conviction tested as Manchester powers fade

Pep Guardiola's first Manchester derby pitted him against a Portuguese manager and featured a debutant goalkeeper.

- RICHARD JOLLY SENIOR FOOTBALL CORRESPONDENT

Nine years on, there are certain similarities, even if some of them will be superficial. Today will pit him against Ruben Amorim, who, whereas Guardiola's rivalry with Jose Mourinho could be bitter, smilingly calls the Catalan “the best coach in the league”. The new goalkeeper to start could be Gianluigi Donnarumma for Manchester City, but it will not be Manchester United’s Senne Lammens, with Amorim already deciding the error-prone Altay Bayindir will play instead.

But there is a fundamental difference. Guardiola against Mourinho seemed to herald that Manchester was becoming the world’s footballing capital. Now today’s match could kick off with both sides in the lower half of the Premier League. “The table in the moment doesn’t matter,” said Amorim, though, for the first time in 2020, United will start a derby above City. In turn, that reflects the fact that, for the first time since 2004-05, City have lost two of their opening three league games. United, meanwhile, are coming off their lowest league finish for half a century.

Two teams that are, depending upon interpretation, in transition or decline can look further weakened. City are without the injured Omar Marmoush and Rayan Cherki, while John Stones is a doubt. United have lost Diogo Dalot, Mason Mount and Matheus Cunha. Plans will have to be rejigged again.