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Rob DawsonCorrespondent
Pep Guardiola has dismissed recommendations Manchester City‘s early qualification within the Champions League has given his crew a bonus forward of the primary Manchester derby of the season.
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Guardiola has the luxurious of resting key gamers in opposition to Marseille on Wednesday with Metropolis already destined to complete prime of Group C.
Manchester United, in the meantime, want at the least some extent once they journey to RB Leipzig, who drew 3-3 with Bayern Munich in Bundesliga motion on Saturday, to make sure of qualifying from Group H.
It means Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is prone to area a full power crew in Germany on Tuesday however Guardiola nonetheless believes United shall be contemporary when the 2 groups meet at Previous Trafford on Saturday.
“I am fairly certain it is a derby and we are going to focus and commit and this implies the gamers aren’t drained, fully the alternative,” stated Guardiola.
United received three of the 4 derbies final season, together with a 2-0 victory on March 8 — the final recreation at Previous Trafford to host followers earlier than the coronavirus lockdown. After a tough begin to the season, Metropolis have began to search out kind and sit sixth within the desk, six factors behind leaders Tottenham Hotspur with a recreation in hand, prompting Guardiola to ship a warning to his reverse quantity Solskjaer.
“We’re in a very good second proper now, I might say,” he stated. “We’re higher than one month in the past however that’s regular. With out preparation, with out time, it is regular what occurred.
“What’s essential is that we aren’t distant from the highest of the league and already certified for the subsequent spherical [of the Champions League]. That is essential. Now we wish to proceed being there.”
