Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho believes Sergio Aguero’s absence for Manchester City in Saturday’s Manchester derby at Old Trafford will hinder rather than help the Red Devils.
City’s lethal Argentinian striker has been suspended for three matches for elbowing West Ham United‘s Winston Reid in the Sky Blues’ last outing, leaving manager Pep Guardiola with a selection headache as to who to start up front.
While most would argue Aguero’s absence is advantageous for United—he has netted three times in three matches already this season—Mourinho said it makes City less predictable, per the Press Association’s Simon Peach:
Mourinho:" It is more difficult because when Aguero is available we know he plays, we know their formation & dynamics. No-one has doubts"
The Portuguese manager and Guardiola are long-term rivals and played out numerous feisty encounters during their time on either side of the Spanish El Clasico divide.
In head-to-head terms, the former Barcelona manager has the edge on his rival and masterminded several humiliating defeats for Mourinho’s Real Madrid side—most memorably a 5-0 Barca victory at the Camp Nou in 2010—per SuperSport:
Jose Mourinho's record against Pep Guardiola: Played 16 Won 3 Drawn 6 Lost 7 #PL https://t.co/C93jsZOvyk
Mourinho avoided provoking Guardiola ahead of them renewing hostilities in Manchester on Saturday and had only praise for his opposite number, per AFP’s Tom Williams:
Mourinho refuses to be drawn on Guardiola. Says focus on their rivalry is "not a problem" and describes him as "a very good manager".
As well as being a local derby, Saturday’s match could also have long-term repercussions in the Premier League title race this season, with a Bleacher Report panel labelling City and United as the two favourites for 2016-17:
Both sides have made perfect starts to the new term, winning three from three, so if either team claims a victory on Saturday, they will earn a potentially crucial early edge on their main rivals.
Ahead of the clash, Mourinho reiterated that the only aim United have in Premier League terms this season is to win it, per Samuel Luckhurst in the Manchester Evening News:
“We have a good family group; we’re together and enjoy the responsibility to work for a club with a history like this. When you arrive at a club like Manchester United, you cannot have defensive words. You have to go direct to the target and say that we want to win the title.”
Mourinho revealed that he has a full squad to select from for Saturday’s crucial encounter, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Luke Shaw both fit despite recent injury concerns, per M.E.N.‘s Rob Dawson:
Bit of good news for United and Mourinho ahead of the derby. Says he's got a fully fit squad, including Mkhitaryan and Shaw.
While that is not true for Guardiola with Aguero out, City will still be able to field a very strong side also.
It is set to be a fascinating and potentially bruising encounter, and one that could set the tone for the rest of the season.
Manchester United vs. Manchester City: Jose Mourinho's Key Derby Presser Quotes – Bleacher Report
