Manchester United have their tails up going into the Manchester derby, but they have been fired a very fierce warning by a former Manchester City player who has plenty of experience beating the Red Devils.
Manchester City legend Joleon Lescott warned Manchester United form can “change very quickly”, days before the second Manchester Derby of the season.
Erik ten Hag’s side were handed their heads by Pep Guardiola’s purring blues, who hammered the Red Devils 6-3 in October. However, the contest at Old Trafford appears to be a lot more even, as United are currently enjoying an eight match winning streak, while City were knocked out of the League Cup by 20th placed Southampton.
Victory for United would even see the Red Devils move within one point of their fierce neighbourly rivals in the Premier League. However, Lescott has warned Ten Hag and his confident Red Devils that things can change very quickly.
“I still think they are one or two seasons away, genuinely, because we’re saying this is form, and when it’s form that can change pretty quickly,” Lescott said on behalf of BT Sports. “The reason why I say that – not just for them because there’s other teams as well that I think are behind Liverpool and City due to the standard that they’ve set.
“We’ve seen Man Utd in the past go 10-12 games unbeaten. But we’ve seen Liverpool and City go and win 10 in a row.
Ten Hag has been fired a firm warning about United’s recent form (Image: Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images)
“That’s the new normal, that’s a third of the points you need to win the league. So until someone’s able to do that, you can’t genuinely be considered.
“We’ve seen Arsenal do that now and they’re flying at the top of the league and still people are doubting whether they are contenders. So, in regards to Man Utd, I still think they are a couple of seasons away.”
Lescott has warned Manchester United to not get too over confident
United are currently occupying fourth place but are only four points away from the Citizens. But while form and confidence may be in United’s favour, City are enjoying a three match winless run over their rivals.
One has to go back to pre-Coronavirus times to find the last occasion which saw United run out winners in a Premier League match against City. Anthony Martial and Scott McTominay were both on the scoresheet and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was the manager during that result. However, as people like to say before a derby, form will go out of the window when United and City both cross the white line at Old Trafford.
Pep Guardiola: I am the only one who tells players the truth
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola. Photo: Getty Images
Pep Guardiola has delivered “home truths” to his Manchester City squad this week during private meetings, and told his players they must look themselves in the mirror and meet their high standards.
Defeat by Southampton in the League Cup led to City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan admitting there was “a special ingredient missing”, and questioning the desire and hunger of his team-mates ahead of the Manchester derby today at Old Trafford. Guardiola has been honest with his players, who have also dropped points against Everton and Brentford recently.
“All I can do is to tell my players the reality in good and bad moments. I have more experience than them, not at playing football but at analysing what happens, I’m better than them. I’m the only person to tell them the truth. That is my job. Put everyone in the team individually in front of their own mirrors to look at themselves,” the City manager said.
Guardiola will be without John Stones through injury and Ruben Dias is also sidelined. The lunchtime fixture gives City the chance to close the gap on Premier League leaders Arsenal and show they have the consistency for another title challenge. “The situation is seven years together, it’s not like Erik (Ten Hag), a few months where they are building – we are here for a long, long time,” he said.
“We are always there. It’s because we won the lot.
“The performance at Southampton I’ve never seen before. You can say it’s one day, mistakes, but it is not allowed.”
While United’s aim has been to return to the Champions League places, Guardiola believes they are title contenders, too.
“United is playing now how they play all their history. I said a few months ago that United is back. People say they’re not. They’re back. I knew it, I felt it,” he said.
Source: dailystar.co.uk; independent.ie
