Manchester United host Manchester City in the Premier League this weekend.
Manchester City’s John Stones
Former Manchester United star Gary Neville has suggested to Sky Sports that Manchester City defender John Stones will have to be clever on Saturday, as he feels that he will struggle with Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s strength one-on-one.
United host City this weekend in one of the most highly-anticipated Manchester derbies in years.
Managerial rivals Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola will go head-to-head once more, while the likes of Paul Pogba, Claudio Bravo, Ibrahimovic and Stones have certainly raised the quality on show.
Games can be won or lost due to a moment of sheer brilliance or an individual error, and plenty of eyes will be on United forward Ibrahimovic and City centre-back Stones in what is being billed as a key battle.
Manchester City’s John Stones and Raheem Sterling celebrate
When asked whether the young England international can stop the Swedish superstar, Neville suggested that Stones may have to adapt his game and cited set-piece situations as a big test for the defender.
“He will struggle to handle Ibrahimovic’s strength one on one, but that’s where he needs to be clever and accept that he’s not going to be able to win every ball and drop off him,” Neville told Sky Sports.
“The main thing for Stones will be marking Zlatan in the box when the crosses are coming in because he’s a huge threat. That’s the real challenge for Stones, marking Ibrahimovic body-to-body and dealing with his physicality.”
Manchester United’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Stones struggled for Everton last season under ex-boss Roberto Martinez, but at City thus far he is already showing clear signs of improvement both on the ball and in his decision-making.
Former Paris Saint-Germain ace Ibrahimovic has started his United career with four goals in as many games, and despite being 34, he still possesses ability of the highest level.
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