Anderson described Manchester City as the ‘kings’ of the city after joining the club earlier this year
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Enzo Maresca has said it is “normal” that Elliot Anderson described Manchester City as the “kings of Manchester” in a swipe at Manchester United.
The midfielder was a Manchester United target before joining City for £116m in the summer and marked his arrival by saying his new club were the monarchs of Manchester.
Manager Maresca cited City’s success in the last decade-and-a-half, when they have won eight Premier League titles, to support why Anderson, 23, would think that.
Maresca, 46, admitted United were the superior force in the city before that but said: “Probably the reason Elliot said that is that he grew up in the last 15 years when Manchester City was unbelievable [with] what they achieved. So it is normal when Elliot said that then if you go back it is a different picture, but for me the reason Elliot said that was when he grew up Manchester City was dominant.”
Maresca will lead City in a Manchester derby for the first time at Old Trafford on Sunday when Nico O’Reilly will be fit to return for his side, though Jeremy Doku is again absent with injury.
City, who beat Porto 2-0 on Tuesday, have had two more days to prepare than United, who played on Thursday as they defeated Sabah 4-0 in the Champions League.
United head coach Michael Carrick said the situation was “not ideal” but Maresca harked back to last season, when City faced Napoli on a Thursday in their opening Champions League game and then travelled to Arsenal to play on the subsequent Sunday.
Maresca said: “It happened exactly the same last year when the club played Napoli and then after two days played Arsenal. Sometimes it happens in football. I don't have any doubt that Man United are going to be ready for that. I think that happens and you need to adapt. It happened last year with us, this season with them, next season it will happen with a different team.”