The manchester derby!

There can be little doubt that the Manchester derbies last season were lacking the intensity and passion we’ve come to expect from the.     fixture.

Manchester City were being led by a dead man walking, with Manuel Pellegrini’s days numbered. The only reason he started last season as manager was because Pep Guardiola wasn’t available for another 12 months. City’s form during final few months of the previous season would normally have seen the manager removed.

Over at Manchester United, Louis van Gaal was in a similar situation, unwanted by the fans and castigated in the media. The language he often used wasn’t the kind expected from a United manager—nowhere near bullish or ambitious enough. Nor was the insipid, sterile football he encouraged.

The days of Roberto Mancini threatening to tear down the banner inside Old Trafford that mocked City’s 35-year wait for a trophy or Sir Alex Ferguson writing off United’s crosstown rivals as noisy neighbours were gone. These were less hostile times, and the two league matches between the sides reflected that.

The 0-0 draw at Old Trafford last October was about as dull a Manchester derby as you will see. Neither side wanted to lose—and as a result, neither side appeared to want to win.

Even the pre-match talk was bland and uninspired. Pellegrini, never one to stoke the fires ahead of a big game or try to use the media to his advantage, was famous for straight-batting every question he faced from reporters, and Van Gaal, so unsure of his position and suspicious of the media, was becoming increasingly cautious. It made for a somewhat sanitised buildup that failed to inspire the supporters.

The return game at the Etihad Stadium in March at least had a narrative that could be remembered. Marcus Rashford’s precociousness and technical quality saw him make a fool of Martin Demichelis and, at 18, become the youngest scorer in a Manchester derby in the Premier League era as he hit the winner in a 1-0 victory.

The general quality of the game, though, again failed to meet expectations. The overriding feeling was the two matches between the sides had failed to deliver.

There’s no danger of that this season. Guardiola has finally taken over at City and imbued them with intensity. He’s made some smart signings, is demanding more from his players and there’s excitement building once more. Last season was defined by disappointment at the Etihad. Optimism has returned thanks to Guardiola’s management.

Five wins from five games, 15 goals scored and some superb football along the way—as starts go, Guardiola’s has been pretty impressive. City sit top of the table and have qualified for the Champions League group stage thanks to a 6-0 aggregate win over Steaua Bucharest.

Against Stoke City, whom they defeated 4-1, they ran 10 km further (per theMirror) than they did in the same fixture the previous season. Against West Ham United in their most recent outing, they moved the ball brilliantly and looked increasingly assured playing Guardiola’s system. Something special appears to be building.

Similar can be said about the start to the new season over at Old Trafford. United had the best summer of any Premier League side. Executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has his critics, but he emphatically ticked off most of the items on United’s wishlist, and they all of a
sudden look like title contenders again.

They needed a manager who was a winner. They got one in Jose Mourinho. They needed some arrogance on the pitch after three years of playing within themselves. Zlatan Ibrahimovic brings that in abundance.

Eric Bailly adds pace and power to what was an unsteady defence, Henrikh Mkhitaryan brings guile and sparkle and Paul Pogba could go on and become the best player in the league. To give credit where it’s due, Woodward has been decisive in his actions, and United have vastly improved as a result.

Which leaves the derby set up beautifully. The widespread feeling is the two Manchester clubs will contest the title. Compared to last season, which saw both sides limp to the finish line and in desperate need of change, it couldn’t be more different.

The two best managers in the game are going head-to-head. Guardiola and Mourinho are completely different in style, but they’re both serial winners. There is no love lost between the pair, either. If this game wasn’t already poised beautifully, the added subtext of their stormy relationship, which has been far from hidden throughout their careers, makes it even more fascinating.

The eyes of the world will be on the game. United vs. City. Mourinho vs. Guardiola. Title rivals going head-to-head. Compared to last season’s damp affairs, this couldn’t be more different.