For decades, Manchester City were nothing more than Manchester United’s noisy neighbours. But these days everything is different and the blue part of the city is under control.
Louis Saha (former United striker) and Dennis Tueart (former City left winger) have seen their former clubs change rapidly over the last fifteen years. The Manchester derby will be played at Old Trafford this afternoon at 16.30.
For manager Erik ten Hags United, who sit eighth in the Premier League, it is an opportunity to ease the increasing pressure on his position. Reigning champions City are also doing well this season: beating United could minimize the gap to Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.
Falling Red Devils
French striker Saha was transferred to Sir Alex Ferguson’s United team in 2004. He won two national championships and the Champions League title before leaving the club in 2008. He sees how United have declined since Ferguson left and Manchester City took control.
He attributes the guard change primarily to events off the field. “Both clubs have invested in different ways over the last decade,” says Saha. “The way City have done this has made them the best possible version of themselves. “They’ve invested a lot in their structure, their technology and their player group.”
“A lot of thought had gone into this process beforehand and it wasn’t just about providing Pep Guardiola with the best possible resources. “It was about an overall package that included the youth academy, infrastructure and even parts of the city.” Boost. “This has led to a rift between both clubs and it is difficult for United to get back to the top.”
Saha admits City’s model is an example to other clubs. “That’s an enviable thing as a United fan because, to be honest, it’s the opposite there. We may have spent a lot of money on players, but it was not enough because there are many clubs that perform better than us and spend a lot.
stability
Tueart, who was a major force behind the mighty Manchester City side of the mid-1970s, also believes City is characterized by well-thought-out policies. “The three things you always want in an organization are stability, unity and team spirit. “If you look at the period before the Abu Dhabi Group takeover, there was very little of that at City.”
“You can see that now at United with the Glazers. This affects the turnover of coaches because you need stability. That’s what we have at City right now. “We have been working with the same manager for seven years in Pep Guardiola, and he is undoubtedly the best in the world.”
Saha sees a major managerial change taking place at United. “Maybe our managers are not always the right choice at certain times, but that does not mean they are not good. But if they think that the infrastructure of the club does not suit them and the transition will not work, as they are used to, then you can hire a hundred coaches, but then it will not work.
The Frenchman thinks that the expectations placed on the club are not working either. “The pressure we put on ourselves doesn’t give the manager time to quietly improve over three or four years.”
“It is difficult for any coach that comes in to wave his magic wand. We’ve been seeing this in various managers for years. I feel like the change in structure comes with the decision of who the new owner will be. “There.” It seems like the only solution now.
It seems important that City keep Guardiola around for as long as possible, but Tueart does not fear the moment the Spanish manager leaves. “No, because we have organization. There is Txiki Begiristain in charge of purchasing policy and Ferran Soriano as CEO. “The club has filled its management positions well and will certainly have worked on long-term planning.”
Source: NOS
I’m George Gonzalez, a professional journalist and author at The Nation View. With more than 5 years of experience in the field, I specialize in covering sports news for various print media outlets. My passion for writing has enabled me to craft stories that capture the attention of readers all over the world.
