The Manchester derby couldn’t come in a better time as both sides are going through a tough period of the season and will search for a chance for redemption at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon.
Manchester United’s season has been all ups and downs. Some games brought back the feeling of the glory days of the ‘Red Devils’, while others were among the worst in history.
United’s manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been living on a hot seat this season and he is going into another game with his job on the line.
To make things worse, Solskjaer cannot count on Raphael Varane and other players are also questionable.
“We’ve got a couple of players doubtful, unfortunately, but that’s part of the game,” said Solskjaer on Friday. “We’ll just have to give them as much time as possible because all of them are working really hard and they wanted another 24 hours to see if they could be available.”
Paul Pogba is definitely ruled out through suspension, as he sits out the second of his three-game domestic ban.
On the other side, Pep Guardiola had to substitute Kyle Walker early during Wednesday’s Champions League win over Club Brugge as a precaution with a foot problem.
Asked whether England right-back was fit and available, Guardiola said he would wait until training before knowing how Walker and the rest of the City squad were shaping up.
“Right now, I don’t know. We have training in a few hours and we will know it. Right now, I don’t know,” Guardiola said.
‘The Citizens’ are sitting in third place in the standings, five-point shy of the leading Chelsea and two behind Liverpool.
United is sharing fifth place with Arsenal, having won five of the ten matches so far.
