The derby should be interesting.
Something has to give at Old Trafford as Manchester United and Man City put their 100% records on the line in the first Manchester derby of the season. While the meeting of Guardiola and Mourinho has football fans salivating, there are so many other subplots at play.
One of the most interesting ones will involve Zlatan Ibrahimovic as he squares off against Guardiola for the first time in English football. As many of you will know, the Swedish striker hasn’t been shy about criticising his former Barcelona manager, the most interesting quotes coming from his book, I Am Zlatan.
While in Spain, Ibrahimovic scored 11 goals in his first 14 league games at the Nou Camp, but his relationship with Guardiola quickly deteriorated.
In the past, the striker has said that Guardiola is “not a man” while referring to him as a “spineless coward”. Ibrahimovic has settled into life at Old Trafford brilliantly since arriving from PSG in the summer and ahead of the match against City, he reignited the war of words with his former boss.
Speaking with MUTV, he said that Mourinho’s management style is “direct with everyone, he is not a coach who goes behind your back. He will tell you. If you’re not good enough, you’re not good enough. I prefer it to be like that, instead of having somebody who doesn’t say anything to you and your situation is so-so but you think it’s good because you don’t hear anything.”
These comments sound very much like they share a bond with the accusations that Ibrahimovic made about Pep Guardiola in his book. The exact passage reads “”When I walk into a room, Guardiola will walk out.”
Have a listen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CH1LU5Irft4
