Pep Guardiola's men lie in fourth in league after recent run of six straight losses
The Red Devils have been on mixed form since firing Erik ten Hag in October
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By SAM LAWLEY
Published: 13:01 EST, 14 December 2024 | Updated: 13:01 EST, 14 December 2024
Nicky Butt has revealed he used to love winning the 'bragging rights' in Manchester after beating City as a player, but has urged his old side not to underestimate Pep Guardiola's men.
The two teams head into Sunday's derby on the back of poor runs of form, with the encounter at the Etihad expected to be a tense affair.
Amorim replaced beleaguered boss Erik ten Hag in November and made a solid start to his tenure, winning consecutive matches against Everton and Bodo/Glimt.
But the Portuguese's progress has been hit by damaging defeats to Arsenal and Nottingham Forest and concerns the Red Devils might have to sell players to comply with Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
City, meanwhile, find themselves at their lowest ebb since Guardiola took the helm in 2016, losing six in a row at one point as they find themselves in fourth, nine points behind leaders Liverpool.
Ahead of the much-hyped grudge match, United legend Butt, who played in his fair share of them, has shared his memories of the rivalry with talkSPORT.
Nicky Butt has shared his Manchester derby memories ahead of Sunday's edition
The ex-Man United star warned the Red Devils should not underestimate Pep Guardiola's men
Butt described the atmosphere around the derbies as a kid growing up in the city
He said: 'It was a fan in me that loved it. And not only that, we pretty much won every single one of them as well, so it was like the bragging rights when you went home.
'The local rivalry, the build-up of a derby game - when you've been brought up in the area and you're a Man United fan, you can't really describe what it feels like. I remember getting up on the day of a derby - up at 7am and the atmosphere around the area is just brilliant.
'Liverpool was the one I'd look out for at the start of every season.'
City have dominated the derby in recent years, winning five of the last six and 14 in 25 against their bitter rivals, while scooping up seven Premier League titles since their neighbours won one.
And, despite their recent woes, Butt has warned against underestimating Guardiola's men in the vital encounter on Sunday.
'I don't think in a derby, you can't really put a league position on the facts of us winning or not winning,' he said.
'I think it's just a one-off game. Anything can happen in derbies. It's passionate, it's emotional.'
In the most recent edition in March, Phil Foden bagged a brace to complete a sensational City comeback after Marcus Rashford's early opener.
Phil Foden bagged a superb brace in March to overturn Marcus Rashford's early strike
United have been on mixed form since Ruben Amorim arrived, suffering some recent losses
Their neighbours meanwhile have reached their lowest point under Guardiola and are in fourth
Butt (pictured, with Sylvain Distin in 2004) experienced his fair share of fesity derbies
An Erling Haaland strike late on ensured United lost for the first time in 143 matches that they had led at the half-time break.
The City pair were behind home humiliation for the Red Devils in October, with Haaland striking from a penalty before a penalty area finish secured his double. Foden wrapped it up after being played in by the Norwegian.
United are under pressure to sell players to comply with profit and sustainability rules (PSR), and raise funds for Amorim to strengthen his squad.
Shifting homegrown players counts as 100 per cent profit on the PSR balance sheet, and for some time now the spotlight has fallen on Rashford who has been at the club since the age of seven.
Another option would be for the Red Devils to sell either of their two crown jewels -Kobbie Mainoo or Alejandro Garnacho - but that is something the club want to avoid.
Meanwhile, Guardiola is promising to dip into his tactical playbook to solve his side's injury crisis before the derby.
The Spaniard, who insisted that City are performing well despite seven defeats in 10, ruled Manuel Akanji out of the meeting with United – leaving him with three available defenders.
Rico Lewis is suspended and the City boss is contemplating starting either Matheus Nunes or Bernardo Silva as a full back.