I wanted to start this off by writing “Sunday is a big game”, because it is. Then I realised it always is, and I realised the magnitude of this particular game. Over the past few years, this game has gotten bigger and bigger as City have got better and better.
Last year it may not have held as much significance after United regressed (yes, I’m being polite), but this year it’s back and it’s much bigger for us. And I’m nervous.
After the past few months, I’m starting to go into every single game feeling more and more worried that we aren’t going to even get automatic Champions League qualification, a failure that would surely spell the end for Pellegrini and would represent an unacceptable decline for us, especially after the great successes of last year.
However, I’m hopeful we can turn it up ahead of Sunday. We’ve shown some signs of our best during this poor spell, and while every City fan would have liked them to be more abundant, they are encouraging (even if slightly so). The players must also now know the weight of our season lies almost entirely on their shoulders with very few games left. Also, with many fans calling for a big overhaul in the summer, some players may increase their work-rate significantly in order to save themselves from the chop.
In terms of Sunday, I could be more confident than I am. We go into the game without Wilfried Bony, who’s looked like he has potential in the limited performances we’ve seen from him since he signed in January, and could potentially be without Vincent Kompany who, according to Pellegrini, is a doubt – although there may be more City fans pleased about that than there are disappointed about it.
Still, we do have some of our perceived stars available. Sergio Aguero should start, and hopefully he can inject some goals into his performance after going through a relatively dry spell in comparison to what he usually has, and Yaya likely will as well, after scoring our only goal at Selhurst Park on Monday; although his overall display left a little to be desired. Hopefully, David Silva can work some of his magic as well. He’ll probably have to if we want to get a win, given our poor form.
Personally, I’m hopeful we can change our mentality going into the game, with a lot of our football at the minute looking slow and unthreatening, two things which don’t scare any team, let alone our biggest rivals. As well as the afore-mentioned point about players needing to improve or be worried about their position, Manuel Pellegrini is also likely to be aware that this game is vital if he still has a hope of keeping his job. That looks increasingly unlikely by the week, but if he is to do it then he needs to start by getting at least a draw at Old Trafford. Hopefully better.
Like I say, I’m not confident. If we play how we have in recent weeks then there’s a good chance we’ll be leaving with our tail between our legs. However, if we step it up a few notches then I see no reason we can’t emerge victorious (or at the very least, a scrappy 0-0 draw with Rooney missing from 6 yards in the 88th minute and Aguero hitting the post at some point).
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