Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola says his side need to focus on tactics and not emotions in Sunday’s Premier League derby with Manchester United.
City, who won 3-0 at Old Trafford in October, are 15 points above United.
Both sides are in good form, with second-placed City unbeaten in 18 and United only losing once in 2024.
“What I learn from my experience in these types of games is to be more calm, relax, don’t talk about many things,” Guardiola said.
“Just focus on tactics and what you have to do to beat them, not about emotions – because emotions will be there, without doubt.”
This is the first derby since Sir Jim Ratcliffe became co-owner of United and said he wants to knock City “off their perch” within three years.
City have won five of the past six Premier League titles.
“The 80s was Liverpool, 90s United and now we have won seven Premier Leagues in the last 11 or 12 years,” said Guardiola.
“But in 50 or 60 years, there has never been one country where one team always dominates and controls everything. We will try in this organisation to extend this as much as possible for many years.
“Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his people know the diagnosis of their club. I don’t know anything about that club.
“If they said they need two or three years to be there, who am I to say the opposite?”
On Thursday, United boss Erik ten Hag said: “Our form – we are also on a good run. The spirit is very good, we are united. Now we have to make a good gameplan.
“We will prepare well but our players are looking forward to it and I can smell it – I’m excited.
“We know we have to give everything and show a team performance.”
Manchester City winger Jack Grealish is ruled out after injuring his groin in Tuesday’s FA Cup win at Luton.
Josko Gvardiol is nearing a return from an ankle problem but this game may come too soon for him.
Manchester United manager Ten Hag does not expect any of his players to return from injury on Sunday.
Bruno Fernandes and Raphael Varane both completed Wednesday’s win at Nottingham Forest despite fitness issues and are again expected to be available.
Manchester United suffered a 2-1 defeat at home against Fulham last weekend before recovering with a last-minute win over Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup.
That Cottagers game is their only defeat in the nine matches they have played in 2024.
They sit three points off Tottenham in fifth place, a position which could mean a place in next season’s Champions League.
City, as they often do in the second half of the season, are in flying form. They are unbeaten in 18 games in all competitions, winning 16 of those.
They go into the weekend only one point behind leaders Liverpool as they chase a second consecutive Treble.
Pep Guardiola’s side come into the game on the back of a memorable 6-2 FA Cup win over Luton which saw Erling Haaland score five goals to take his seasonal tally to 27. Kevin de Bruyne’s four assists took his total to 11.
