All derbies are eagerly anticipated, of course, that is the whole point of the exercise. But Manchester is where it is all happening in English football at the moment. In terms of the personalities and pedigree of the two managers, the staggering amounts of money spent in the transfer window and the impeccable starts United and City have made to the new season, it is clear things have moved up several notches since the memorable Old Trafford meeting five years ago and a result the BBC suggested would send shock waves through thePremier League.
That the derby will be competitive and both teams well-matched and well-managed is a given. Manchester is lucky in that respect this season. The only previous time the two sides each won their three opening matches was in 2011-12, and that was the season City finally prised the title away from their neighbours on goal difference on the final day of the season, with Agüero scoring the now legendary late goal against QPR. As the aforementioned 6-1 shock wave sender of that season was in October, this is the first time the two sides will go into the Manchester derby with 100% records and two new managers pretending to be unconcerned about their previous rivalry in Spain. The stage could hardly be better set or the game more delicately poised.
Mourinho has done well to restore United to their former grandeur very quickly, largely with statement signings such asPaul Pogba and Ibrahimovic, though some might argue Van Gaal set the bar very low and appeared to have mere ordinariness as the vision at the end of his famous three-year plan. Guardiola has not been slow to show decisiveness and exert authority, banishing Joe Hart to Italy and leaving Yaya Touré out of his Champions League squad. With new signings Ilkay Gündogan and Leroy Sané still to get started, the City supporters are already excited about the brand of football their side has been playing and relieved to discover that the £44m spent on Sterling last season might not have been a waste of money after all.