A wounded Manchester Derby: physically ill United face the mentally ill City

By Eric Beard

It’s not your typical Manchester derby is it? Neither Manchester United nor City supporters will be too happy to see this fixture on their calender as both prepare for the clash at the City of Manchester Stadium. Sure, United are on a good run of form while City still lack the confidence that should match the potential they have with such talented individuals.

In all honesty, United should have the edge here, however, fate has decided otherwise. According to The Guardian, “Manchester United have been hit with a virus ahead of tomorrow’s derby against City with Patrice Evra, Nemanja Vidic, Dimitar Berbatov and Paul Scholes all believed to be among the victims.” Ryan Giggs and Nani will also likely miss this match due to injury, and of course Rooney is doing something much more important at Nike’s headquarters in Oregon.

So who will provide the goals for Fergie? Well, responsibility will lie on the shoulders of Chicharito, Park Ji-Sung, and then probably Bebe and Gabriel Obertan as well. Not exactly a strike force you would bet your house on… And yet, the home side of the match are looking just as ill. Manchester is a tough place to live, considering the industrial setting and the anti-Argentine weather, and it seems the foreigners in the squad are finally starting to come to this realisation. Carlos Tevez, the heart and soul of this side, is suffering and misses his family in Buenos Aires. This unhappiness from the captain has been permeating throughout the whole team, with irrational acts coming from the likes of Mario Balotelli. If only City could just get on with their football…

(Source: matchcentre)