- Manchester United host Manchester City in a local derby on Sunday afternoon
- United are bidding to end their rival’s unbeaten start to the season
- The squad gathered at their favoured city centre hotel, the Lowry, pre-match
The Manchester United squad put the final touches on their preparations for the local derby as they gathered at the Lowry Hotel on Sunday morning.
First team stars Romelu Lukaku, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Marcos Rojo, Juan Mata, Chris Samlling and Anthony Martial were all pictured checking in hours ahead of kick off at Old Trafford.
Ibrahimovic, Phil Jones, Rojo, Marouane Fellaini, David de Gea and Nemanja Matic have returned to squad against City. Matic and De Gea are set to start after they were left out of the midweek meeting with CSKA tie in preparation. Rojo was also rested and United manager Jose Mourinho, who was pictured arriving at the Lowry on Saturday, said Fellaini had a ‘chance’ of regaining fitness after missing the last three games.
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho was pictured arriving at the Lowry on Saturday
Zlatan Ibrahimovic arrives at the Lowry ahead of the Manchester derby at Old Trafford
Romelu Lukaku salutes United fans waiting to catch a glimpse of their heroes outside the hotel
Defender Marcos Rojo looks in good spirits as he arrives, the Argentine was rested in midweek
Juan Mata greets the hotel doorman with a handshake as fans wave at the Spaniard
United are looking to end City’s 15-game unbeaten run to start the season and close the gap at the top of the Premier League. Pep Guardiola’s team currently hold an eight point lead over second place United and have only failed to win game.
Mourinho is having to gameplan to take on City without star midfielder Paul Pogba. The Frenchman is banned following his red card at the Emirates last week and the United manager admits it has had a big impact on his approach.
‘We have lost a very important player, one with an impact in the way we play and that is obvious,’ said Mourinho about his talismanic midfielder during the pre-match press briefing.
Thumbs up from Chris Smalling as he makes his way into the hotel lobby on Sunday morning
A focused Anthony Martial has fans taking pictures on their phones as he arrives at the Lowry
‘This season, there was a Manchester United with Paul and there was a Manchester United without Paul. He impacts our style. For the next three matches we have to cope without Paul and try to win without him.
‘It’s not pessimistic. It’s just a different way to play football. Do you think I have in my team a midfield player who can make the third goal at Arsenal? We don’t.
‘They have other qualities. Fellaini can score an amazing header. Matic can shoot from outside the box. Herrera can do other good things, but a midfield player to do and create what Pogba did in the third goal against Arsenal, we don’t have.’
