Little more than pride at stake in Manchester derby

Welcome to Manchester, to borrow a hackneyed phrase. Although the invitation may seem less enticing than it has for quite some time.

- RICHARD JOLLY

“This, without a shadow of a doubt, will be the global capital of football in the rest of the 21st century,” said the mayor, Andy Burnham, last year. He may yet be proved right and the Everton supporter was talking in the context of a new Old Trafford and an expanded Etihad Stadium. But not now.

If Madrid has had a stronger case to be the world’s footballing capital over recent years, Manchester could have regarded itself as England’s unofficial centre. Some 21 of the 32 Premier League titles have gone to Manchester, an era of United dominance followed by one of City superiority. Its twin halves have converged on London for the 2023 and 2024 FA Cup finals. Since the Premier League was founded, United and City have a combined 64 trophies.

They could make it 66 in 33 years, topping the annual average of two, considering City beat United to win the Community Shield in August. Now City are the favourites for the FA Cup and United the only unbeaten side in the Europa League. And yet there are reasons to call today’s meeting the lowest-calibre derby in decades. It is 13th against fifth; unless other results demote United to 14th or 15th before kick-off. There is the possibility – either because of the hearing into City’s 115 (or 130) charges or simply due to results on the pitch – that Manchester will have no representative in the Champions League next season. That has not happened since 1995-96.