Man city defender Ruben Diaz reveals the only Man United Star that He is afraid of facing on Sunday
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City experienced a challenging week, managing only a draw against Crystal Palace last weekend before a midweek Champions League defeat to Juventus. The loss severely impacted their chances of progressing to the knockout stages, adding to a poor run of form that includes just one win in their last 10 matches across all competitions, with seven of those being losses.
One of their most notable defeats in this spell was a 4-1 thrashing at the hands of Sporting Lisbon, masterminded by Rúben Amorim, who now leads Manchester United. As City prepare to host United at the Etihad on Sunday, the pressure is intensifying to turn things around.
City can take some comfort in avoiding new injuries during their trip to Italy, but they will still be without the influential Rodri. Mateo Kovačić, however, has returned to training and could bolster the midfield this weekend. Guardiola faces further challenges in defense and goalkeeping, with Rico Lewis suspended after receiving a red card against Crystal Palace. Additionally, the decision to bench Ederson in favor of Stefan Ortega in recent league games has added uncertainty to the starting lineup, though Ortega seems set to retain his spot for the derby.
On the other hand, Manchester United’s initial optimism under Rúben Amorim has waned after back-to-back league defeats to Arsenal and Nottingham Forest. Adding to their struggles, the unexpected departure of Dan Ashworth has shaken the club’s administrative stability. Despite this, United managed a narrow Europa League victory over Viktoria Plzeň on Thursday. Rasmus Højlund came off the bench to score twice, while Amad Diallo impressed in attack. Mason Mount, who replaced a lackluster Joshua Zirkzee, delivered a strong performance and may have earned a starting role in the derby.
United’s injury situation is improving, with Jonny Evans and Victor Lindelöf returning to the squad. Luke Shaw remains the only absentee, giving Amorim a more complete team as he aims to snap United’s two-game Premier League losing streak.
Both teams are desperate for a turnaround, setting the stage for a fiercely competitive Manchester derby. United will look to capitalize on City’s vulnerabilities, while Guardiola’s side will strive to regain their rhythm and restore confidence in front of their home fans.
