Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo says the Manchester derby has always been a special fixture for him, having faced Manchester City regularly since his days in the club’s academy.
United and City have traditionally been among the strongest teams at youth level, making the derby an important fixture for Mainoo from a young age. The upcoming meeting at Old Trafford, in the English Premier League, will be the 199th between the two rivals.
“It means a lot to me. I mean, coming up in the Academy, you play City twice a season, and it’s always the biggest game,” Mainoo told United Review.
“You know that being a fan, but where the coaches would bring it up, it’s always been a big rivalry for us, and so yeah, I’m really excited.”
Mainoo has already produced one of the biggest moments of his United career against City, earning Player of the Match honours after scoring in United’s 2-1 victory over Pep Guardiola’s side in the 2024 FA Cup final at Wembley.
“It was a great day. Scoring in the derby any time is unbelievable, but in an FA Cup final, it’s just that much sweeter, and to go on and to win, yeah, it’s a day I’ll never forget,” he said.
United enter Sunday’s derby looking to build momentum under manager Michael Carrick. Mainoo praised Carrick's influence on his growth, stating: “Anything that he tells you or any instruction that he gives you is gold, really. So it’s been good to learn under him and play for him.”
Across the divide, Manchester City captain Rúben Dias insists the new arrivals at the Etihad are desperate to win and are already adapting to the ideas of manager Enzo Maresca, whom he called the perfect replacement for Guardiola.
City splashed out £458 million (about R10 billion) during the transfer window, bringing in the likes of Enzo Fernández, Elliot Anderson, and Ayyoub Bouaddi.
"So many people have left, and so many winners have left, and now new people have joined with a lot of ambition and people who are desperate to win, and that is also what makes the club keep on going," Dias told The Football Interview.
"I feel like everything is making a lot of sense. Everyone is buying into the idea. Everyone's excited about it, and there is a lot of joy in training, which is massively important."
With Dias extending his contract until 2029 and Mainoo pulling the strings in United's midfield, Sunday's showdown promises to be another fiery chapter in the battle for Manchester supremacy. | IANS