Pep Guardiola says David Silva is a major doubt for Manchester derby

If the first Manchester derby of the season was excessively dominated by the focus on a fascinating coaching rivalry, Thursday’s encounter is strictly business.

The result leaves City in fourth place, still a point – and a place – ahead of their local rivals in the race for a top-four finish and Champions League qualifying spot, and extends United’s unbeaten run to 24 league games.

When Manchester City and Manchester United first met this season on September 10, it was a battle between two teams expected to challenge for the title.

Manchester United will host Swansea City at Old Trafford in their next Premier League game on Sunday afternoon.

Manchester United comes after overcoming 2-0 away from home.

When Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho arrived last summer amid much fanfare the soccer world expected a rivalry rivaling Barcelona vs. Back in August most folks thought that City and United would joust majestically for the Premier League title but instead here they are, squabbling over the right to crawl into next season’s Champions League.

It would represent a remarkable turnaround, even if United still have difficult-looking fixtures at Tottenham and Arsenal to come.

57′ – We’ve reached the phase of the game where players fall down in an attempt to win penalties instead of trying to attack. Still, winning this game and finishing above City would make this season a successful one.

City took 19 shots to United’s three – Claudio Bravo only had to make one save before leaving with an injury – and Kompany said the hosts were never in danger, though he lamented not being able to find a victor.

It’s an unsettling experience for Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho but victory today would at least offset some embarrassment for one of them.

“Paul was injured because he played two hours against Anderlecht [the Europa League quarter-final last Thursday] and then he was playing 90 minutes against Burnley two days later”, Mourinho, warming to one of his favourite themes, explained.

“I think maybe opponents, they look at us with different eyes because we don’t have Zlatan and Paul and Marcos and Mata and Jones and Smalling”, he told reporters at United’s Carrington training base.

That prompted Conte to say on Monday: “I think this season it is very important to understand that it is not always about who spends more money who wins”.

Despite their pedigree Guardiola and Mourinho have plenty to prove to both sets of supporters as the two most successful and talented managers of their generation are finding that Manchester is not their heaven.