The Manchester derby awaits Manchester City and it’s a game they simply must win | OneFootball

Manchester City will head into Sunday’s Manchester derby off the back of wins over Bournemouth and Leicester City in the FA Cup and Premier League respectively. Those results have seen Pep Guardiola’s side begin to resemble themselves with how they’ve played. The second-half performance against Bournemouth was arguably City’s best performance since November. They followed that with a comfortable win over lowly Leicester City at the Etihad. Now their arch-rival Manchester United awaits, and it’s a game City simply must win.

All Manchester derbies are big games. Bragging rights and the rivalry between the two clubs ensures that Sunday’s match at Old Trafford is no different. However, when you look at the Premier League table both teams have been disappointing this season. Manchester City currently sit 5th on the Premier League table. Manchester United sit 13th. But in City’s chase to secure Champions League qualification for next season Sunday’s Manchester derby is a game that Pep Guardiola’s side simply must win.

Manchester City currently sit 5th on the Premier League table with 51 points. Chelsea are fourth with 52 points. Newcastle United are 6th on 50 points with a game in hand on Pep Guardiola’s side. If Newcastle were to win their game in hand they’d leapfrog City into 5th. So Manchester City must keep picking up victories to keep the pressure on Newcastle and Chelsea in fourth. City simply cannot afford to drop too many points on the run home. If they do they may hand Newcastle United and Chelsea the initiative in the chase to qualify for next season’s Champions League. That’s something that they simply cannot afford to do.

Manchester City must win at Old Trafford on Sunday to maintain their chase for Champions League football.

All Manchester derbies are must-win games. That goes without saying. Ruben Amorim’s side would love nothing more than to scupper City’s chase for Champions League football. They did beat City 2-1 at the Etihad earlier this season. Or rather, Manchester City beat themselves late on that night. That fate must be avoided tomorrow by Pep Guardiola’s side at Old Trafford. Sunday’s result likely won’t define City’s chase for Champions League football. But a win could set them up for the final seven games of the season. A defeat would put them under pressure and potentially hand the keys to the Champions League race to Newcastle and Chelsea. That simply cannot happen from a Manchester City point of view.