THE IMMOVABLE OBJECT MEETS THE UNSTOPPABLE FORCE
Derby will end record run for one Manchester giant
MAN CITY V MAN UNITED
4.30PM TOMORROW, SKY SPORTS
OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER appeared in pretty combative form for a man set for a head-on collision with a runaway train. Just 48 hours out from the Manchester derby, he batted away suggestions his side are struggling to score, despite four and a half hours without a goal, pointing to the 4-0 hammering of Real Sociedad. He also rubbished suggestions United were out of form, claiming three goalless stalemates “was not us really”. And he locked horns with Pep Guardiola like a high-stakes poker player, putting United’s 21-match unbeaten run away from home on the table against City’s 21-match winning streak. “They are going through a fantastic spell, great form with 21 wins. We’ve had 21 away games in the league unbeaten. One record is going to be broken, so let’s see which one it is,” he said. What he did not agree on was that United have at times been clinging on, dropping 13 points in their past eight games as City have disappeared over the horizon. During that time, despite what Solskjaer says, they have struggled to score, whichever combination of forwards he selects. What United have been able to do effectively is shut up shop against the big six, with goalless shutouts in five of their past six against Chelsea (twice), Liverpool, Arsenal and City. And while Solskjaer was adamant United will not be tempted to try to park a bus at the Etihad tomorrow, logic might suggest it would be their best route to keeping their record intact. “As a coach or manager it’s the worst feeling ever to be defending around the box because any little quality from your opponents and you have conceded,” said Solskjaer, right. “So we have tried to go more positive, but we have not been clinical or ruthless enough with chances we have had because we have had chances in these games.” Former United striker and Betfair ambassador Dimitar Berbatov says blame, like goals, should be shared. “Concentration levels need to be high and strikers should be 100 per cent sharp,” said Berbatov, inset left. “But it’s not only strikers who can score goals and the rest of the team needs to chip in. ” Solskjaer is mindful of the club’s attacking traditions and as such believes recent results are out of character. “Three 0-0s isn’t us really and that is not what we set out to do,” he said. “We have defended well but lacked that spark to create.” United are in a better position than this time last season when they were three points off fourth place and 16 points off second. “We’ve given ourselves a very good chance to improve on last season,” said Solskjaer.
●For more from Betfair Ambassador Dimitar Berbatov head to: betting. betfair.com/ football/ dimitar-berbatov