PEP: WE WANT TO WIN THE DERBY EVERY BIT AS MUCH AS UNITED

PEP GUARDIOLA has dismissed the suggestion tomorrow’s derby showdown means more to Manchester United.

Although Manchester City have no chance of catching runaway leaders Liverpool, their top-four status is assured, with Guardiola’s side holding a 15-point lead over fifth-placed United.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side, meanwhile, are involved in a scrap with a host of other teams for Champions League qualifcation and are fighting for every available point.

Against that backdrop, there is arguably more at stake tomorrow for United than City.

But Guardiola said his side will come unstuck if they allow themselves to slip into that mindset.

“When we believe it’s more important for them, we’re going to lose,” said Guardiola.

“We have to have belief that it’s more important to us. I’ve never played a game thinking about points, or that the game is more or less comfortable.

“I never see the game schedule, just the game we try to play and the fact we try to win. I’ve said many times about the determination we’ve shown in these moments, the desire and commitment in every single game, not just for the last year.”

City are set to be without Kevin De Bruyne, who suffered a shoulder injury in the Carabao Cup final win over Aston Villa, and is unlikely to be risked ahead of the Champions League last16 return leg against Real Madrid a week on Wednesday.

United’s man of the moment is £46.6million January signing Bruno Fernandes, who was linked with a move to City before heading to Old Trafford.

But Guardiola said 25-yearold Fernandes, who has scored three goals in his last four games and has yet to be on the losing side with United, was never on his radar.

And Guardiola accused agent Miguel Pinho of using City to drive up interest in his client – and help push through his move to United.

“I think he’s an exceptional player, that’s why United bought him,” said Guardiola.

“I said many times it looks like we’re linked with a thousand million players every month. So I don’t know if the agent wants to create something to do that.

“But I don’t think the club was in talks with his agent about this player, but they link this guy and a thousand million more [with us].”

Tomorrow will be the fourth time United and

City have met this season, with the Reds leading by two wins and the Blues victorious in the other.

United stunned City at the Etihad in December by winning 2-1, and Guardiola expects Solskjaer’s side to be up for the fight again tomorrow.

“When I saw the last games, they were incredibly aggressive,” Guardiola said.

“And at Old Trafford that will happen.”

DERBY PASSION City boss Pep Guardiola clashes with United’s Wayne Rooney contacted Derby officials in the hope of identifying those responsible. The incident came just 24 hours after Eric Dier climbed into the stands to tackle fans involved in an altercation with his brother, Patrick, after Tottenham lost on penalties at home to Norwich in the FA Cup. Insults hurled at Lingard included: “Jesse, you’re s**t, Jesse, you’re w***. Jesse, you’re s**t, Jesse, f**k off”, while one fan was also heard to shout, “Zero goals and zero assists in 2019” towards the midfielder, who was signing autographs before boarding the bus. Lingard’s United team-mate, Luke Shaw (left), appeared at the open door of the bus and confronted the group of fans after hearing the volley of insults. United feel the abuse crossed a line and have made clear their intention to find those responsible, with Derby understood to be studying CCTV footage of the area where the incident occurred. A statement from Derbyshire Constabulary said: “We are aware of a video that was taken outside Pride Park and enquiries are ongoing.”