Before the Manchester Derby between ManCity and United (Saturday, 1.30 p.m.), City Manager Pep Guardiola praised opposing striker Cristiano Ronaldo in the highest tones. Meanwhile, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sees the Red Devils ahead of their rivals.
“He will score goals all his life,” said Guardiola at Sky Sports about CR7, who moved from Juventus to United in the summer transfer window and has already decided several games with his goals there. “He will be 75 years old, maybe already retired, but even then he will still be playing football and scoring goals at his own barbecue.”
Guardiola compared the Portuguese to longtime rival Lionel Messi in this regard: “What the two have achieved in world football over the past decade, with so many goals and titles, speaks for itself. It is good for the Premier League that [Ronaldo] is back. As in the past, it fits. “
Guardiola did not want to comment that Ronaldo almost switched to the Citizens before the transfer window closed before he finally decided for United. “They have to [Ronaldo und Ole Gunnar Solskjaer] ask, “he said.” Do you think that both sides are happy to have each other? Only that counts.”
Ronaldo has scored nine goals in eleven appearances since his return, including five in the Champions League.
Solskjaer on rivalry in Manchester: “United still number one”
In terms of sporting success, City has overtaken the longtime Premier League dominator United in recent years. For Solskjaer, the inner-city order is still clear. “You have to respect their performances over the last ten years, maybe even more their dominance in England and Europe over the last four or five years,” he said at the press conference before the game on Friday.
“But we are Manchester United, we always come back. In my eyes we are the number one club in Manchester and therefore probably also worldwide,” said the Norwegian.
In fact, City and the league have not been able to win against United since April 2019. In contrast, United was able to contest four of the last seven duels in all competitions.
