Yogi Berra once said about Baseball: “90% of the game is half mental”. The same is true in most sports and definitely in football (soccer). If you look at United you may conclude that they have the upper hand. They are on the longest 23 match unbeaten streak, well positioned in Europa, Rooney is back in the lineup with a lot to prove as well as his professional pride, Marcus Rashford is hot and there is always David De Gea to protect the goal. But whenever long streaks are on the line there is always a risk that they may come to an end the next match. By contrast City is a wounded team. They are out of all competitions with no chance to threaten Chelsea or Spurs for the title, No silverware for you Pep Guardiola this year. And yet beware of “wounded animals”. They clearly have the talent to beat United while with David Silva (assuming he’s back) , Yaya Toure who played the best game of his career against Arsenal in the FA Cup Semi-final, De Bruyne, Sterling with Company solid in the back but can they be motivated and hungry enough to go for it if for no other reason than redemption and rubbing their city rivals noses in it. Guardiola is a great motivator but he seems more than a bit down on himself. If anyone can fire City up it will be Pep. So, what does all this mean? The easy answer is that we’re in for a 2:2 draw.
But my heart is with United so I predict United 2 City 1.
This reminds me of a joke:A life-long United fan comes home late after a match at Old Trafford having consumed a few pints at the pub before heading home. His wife says: “Once again you’re late. It looks like you’re hammered. With you it’s all about United. Sometime I feel that you love United more than you love me” “Woman” says the husband: “I got news for you. I love City more than I love you”
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