Ruben Amorim will take his Manchester United to the Etihad for the first Manchester derby of the season after the international break.
The squad will soon begin filtering into Carrington after representing their respective nations, with Bruno Fernandes producing an underwhelming display for Portugal.
Nevertheless, the 31-year-old handed the Red Devils their first win of the season as his 97th-minute penalty secured a 3-2 win against Burnley last time out.
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Man United could be without four first-team stars for the trip to the Etihad, most notably Matheus Cunha, who has impressed since arriving from Wolves in the summer.
Matheus Cunha of Manchester United in action during the Premier League match between Fulham and Manchester United at Craven Cottage.
Photo by Nigel French/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
However, Pep Guardiola has not beaten Amorim in his three attempts at Man City, and the Portuguese boss has been informed that he already has the blueprint to claim victory in the derby on Sunday.
Ruben Amorim knows how to beat Manchester City
According to The Athletic, Amorim can lean on two benefits of his Man United squad, which has brought joy in clashes against the top six sides last season.
“The 40-year-old appears to be chasing two specific benefits for his squad. The first comes in his collection of defensively minded players. The majority of United’s centre-backs are more comfortable when defending smaller spaces closer to their goal.
“Asking them to move the ball in pronounced build-up patterns while close to each other should, in theory, allow them to move the ball in a way that feels controlled, helping reduce the distances they must cover if something goes wrong.
“Another advantage can be found in United’s array of attackers, who tend to prefer running with the ball into open space rather than unpicking deep defences. If the team can successfully draw defending teams forward, they can quickly work around the press and get the ball into the channels.
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim and Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola look on during the Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Manchester City
Photo by Alex Dodd – CameraSport via Getty Images
“If they cannot successfully overload the opposition down one wing, then they look for an option to switch.”
Man United claimed a 2-1 win at the Etihad last season, in a match where Rasmus Hojlund should have won a penalty after he was brought down in the penalty area by Ruben Dias.
Interestingly, the Red Devils suffered losses against Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth at Old Trafford, either side of their victory in the derby.
Furthermore, Amorim would not gain another point in the Premier League until he earned a 2-2 draw away to Liverpool, in another match where VAR made a wrongful decision against United.
Amorim seemingly has cracked the formula to compete among the Premier League elite; his troubles, however, lie in his ability to beat the sides that are weaker on paper than United.
Manchester United hold the advantage heading into the derby
Indeed, there will possibly be 14 players missing from both United and City heading into Sunday’s clash, with ten of those playing for the Citizens.
Amorim has enjoyed success against Guardiola at the best of times, and although his United side will be widely considered underdogs for the derby, they stand the most likely to claim the three points on the day.
Man City are suffering from the same problems that derailed their Premier League title aspirations last season and look a far cry from the side that dominated English football for years.
The international break denied United the opportunity to gain momentum from their first win of the season, and should they manage to win the Manchester derby, it could be the turning point for their campaign.