Both sides are in a tricky run of form, so is Wednesday’s derby in the EFL Cup bigger for one Manchester club than the other?
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho
Following the weekend’s results and the recent run of form for both sides, Wednesday night’s Manchester derby seems to have taken on a degree of extra significance.
Both Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola have been tasked with winning trophies at their respective clubs, and though some may regard the EFL Cup as pretty low down on their list of priorities, it is a competition that they will want to win nonetheless.
Is it bigger for one side than the other?
Manchester United come into the game on the back of a humiliating return to Stamford Bridge for Mourinho – as Chelsea handed out a 4-0 hammering to their former manager.
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho looks dejected
United are not in the greatest place in the Premier League, though things are by no means over. They are six points off the pace in the Premier League, and a five-point gap has opened up between them and the top four, which should be a minimum requirement for the club this season. It’s by no means irreversible, but after nine games that’s a concerning gap to have opened up.
Their run of form isn’t the greatest in the league having won just one game, and losing three, out of their last six games, though there have been wins in Europa League and EFL Cup during that time.
United have faced three very high profile games so far this season. They lost the first Manchester derby on their own patch, and got a 0-0 draw against Liverpool at Anfield.
After an impressive defensive performance on Merseyside, they put in a calamitous display at Stamford Bridge. A win in a big game early on in the season can be a big confidence boost, regardless of the competition. If they were eliminated, the column inches would be filled with more ‘United in crisis’ type pieces – even if that could be argued as somewhat overblown.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola
As for Manchester City, they’re top of the table, in second place in their Champions League group and still in the EFL Cup. Hardly a crisis of the century is it?
That doesn’t detract from the sticky run of form they have managed to get themselves in, and they could do with ending that sooner rather than later.
Giving ground to their rivals in the title race is never a good thing and players can become nervous on the field if wins don’t start coming around again pretty soon. One thing in Manchester City’s favour is that the have got that one big win already this season in the same fixture in the Premier League.
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho and Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola at the end of the match
The reality is, it’s probably a bigger game for the home side but whoever comes off second best may have an uncomfortable period of questions being asked before they win again.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
