Tomorrow, we have the first Man City vs Man United under Ruben Amorim.

Or should we say, the first Guardiola vs Ruben at the Premier League?

Regardless, I’m very excited to see these teams playing!

Without a doubt, these are 2 of the most influential Coaches of my Coaching Philosophy in recent years, the ones that gave me a greater understanding of the Game, the importance of Leadership and Match Strategy.

Along with José Mourinho and Sir Alex Ferguson, that provide me a greater support and understanding on Training Methodology and on how to create a winning Culture, respectively.

Coming back to the title, what can we expect?

Both teams are not in their best shape.

Easy to say.

Starting with the home team, Manchester City.

Manchester City is going through the worst phase of Guardiola’s history as a Coach and struggling to get results consistent as they have in the recent past.

I mentioned this to my closest circle, that Guardiola’s Manchester City wasn’t exciting me for the last years, regardless their wins and records at the Premier League and although that was the time they got their first Champions League.

Why?

It was getting, for the first time in my memory of teams under Pep, a team that was more focused on being cohesive, or even predictable, than exciting. 

And I’m not saying that there was no merit, massive ball possession levels, positive Football or even good players, naturally.

It was just not exciting, for me.

At FC Barcelona, there was massive ball possession levels but then there was spectacle involved.

At FC Bayern München, there was massive ball possession, but then there was the irreverence of Ribery and Robben to feed the spectacle and unpredictability of the Game.

In the first years of Manchester City, Pep was fast to understand the need to have more quality upfront, and he signed Bernardo Silva, Sterling, Mahrez, Leroy Sane to join Kun Agüero.

Additionally, Phil Foden came from the Youth and joined the squad.

Fast forward, Bernardo is still there (and playing regularly), Doku goes on his 2nd Season and still struggling to be consistent on the field and Grealish (already on his 4th Season at City) was never a player that provided excitement.

The hopes are now on Savinho’s shoulders, but as virtually all players under Pep, the first Season is an adaptation to the system and positioning required, and yet to be the main reference on the starting 11. As an example, in the last 10 matches, he was only 5 times at the starting 11.

Funny enough, the only excitement there was Rodri’s growth and impact on the team.

Massive player, gave Guardiola exactly what he needed at the team, a great balance and aggressiveness when the ball was lost.

But, Rodri (although the nominated to be the best player in the World), is not magic.

Therefore, Manchester City is not a team that excites me.

Furthermore, the results haven’t been great recently.

If there’s no unknown injuries or punishments, my bets for Man City starting 11 (GK-3-2-4-1) are:

Ortega
Ruben Dias

Akanji

Gvardiol

Kovacic

Gündogan

Bernardo Silva

De Bruyne

Doku

Savinho

Haaland

Let’s dive now with the away team, Manchester United.

For those that have read my articles on Manchester United, there’s no news here.

They have one of the best and exciting Coaches in the World.

But, just as Pep needed to invest in so many players over the years (I’ve only mentioned the ones at the top, mostly wingers, but there was Ederson, Stones, Kyle Walker, Laporte, Ruben Dias, Gvardiol, Akanji, not to mention Cancelo, Aké or Mendy) to get to consecutive titles and consistent performances, Ruben will need a similar kind of investment at United.

This Man United team is simply not good enough for the history of the Club.

Plain and simple.

However, there have been improvements since Ruben joined and there’s now a clearer starting 11 that guarantees some kind of behaviors, as first pressure from the strikers, team reaction when the ball is lost, some passing options are getting easier to understand when the team is in possession of the ball, although all is very inconsistent yet.

If there’s no unknown injuries or punishments, my bets for Man United starting 11 (GK-3-4-2-1) go to:

Onana

Yoro

De Ligt

Martinez

Mazraoui

Ugarte

Mainoo

Dalot

Amad Diallo

Bruno Fernandes

Højlund

Regardless the teams current status and last results, this is a Game both will be eagerly to win.

For different reasons, naturally.

Pep wants to fight for the title.

Ruben wants to make a statement.

So, there will be definitely emotion and desire to win.

I expect a good fight, and most likely a win to City.

United’s level is not there yet.

Let’s see!