The footballing fraternity has come out in force to share their pre-match thoughts, with players past and present, all keen to share an opinion on the latest instalment of United v City.
Ederson is set for his competitive derby debut and that’s where we start this morning, with the Brazilian telling journalists he is well aware of the significance of Sunday’s fixture.
The Manchester Evening News carry his quotes: “I already know about the importance of the derby.
“I’m calm. I’m just going to keep working the same way, with the same calm and concentration as usual to give the best to the team.
“It would be important [to move 11 points clear].
“It’s always important to keep a distance with our direct opponents, but we are going to keep working no matter what, focused on our job and try to win there.
“Of course we can [win].”
Another Blues keeper has also been speaking ahead of the game, with former custodian Tony Coton – who was once on the coaching staff at United – impressed with the manner of City’s spate of late victories.
He told the Daily Express: “The free-flowing football we have come to expect from City hasn’t really been there in the last few games.
“They have won the games but they have won them late on.
“They have shown they have got it in them to dig deep and scrap out results and perhaps they didn’t have that last season. It’s an essential quality for any team with title ambitions.
“What I like about them in the recent wins overs Huddersfield, Southampton and West Ham was that they stayed patient, kept their composure, kept passing and probing and never changed their beliefs. And they got their rewards.”
Meanwhile, another man with connections to both the blue and red half of the city has given a fascinating account of his career.
Speaking with the Daily Mail, Peter Barnes has recalled several interesting anecdotes, including memories of his first Manchester derby and also the experience of serving his football apprenticeship under the watchful eyes of Mike Summerbee and Francis Lee.
He revealed: “I had the same size feet as Mike and he’d ask me to break his boots in. I’d sit in the bath for an hour or two for three days with his boots just moulding them. Then you’d polish and Dubbin them.
“Summerbee would spend hours on the pitch at Maine Road just telling me how to cross a ball and put it on a sixpence. It’s a dying art today.”
“You’d learn off the older players. Franny Lee too. I was lucky to catch the end of that 60s team.”
Finally, rock n roll icon Noel Gallagher has provided the fans’ view of Sunday’s showdown, which the Daily Star has picked up.
“I don’t like derby day,” said Noel
“I’ve never enjoyed it. It’s too stressful. Genuine football supporters will want to get the derby out of the way.
“Wake up, call it a draw, and move on.”
That’s all for today, Blues, but we’ll be back with more of the same tomorrow.
