The Manchester United vs Manchester City Derby throws up some interesting sub plots. While both are jostling for position and summer bragging rights in the top four come May, two men will be particularly concerned about their short-term futures at their clubs.
Manuel Pellegrini
A really decent man who won us over by refusing to get dragged into a silly cat fight with Jose Mourinho, the like of which the Chelsea boss seems to relish.
But he is also a man who sometimes gives the impression that he has run out of ideas at Manchester City, a club fast-tracked to success with billions behind them. Having taken the title last year many felt that Manchester City would shed their naivety in Europe and have a serious pop this season. But, while there is no shame in losing to Barca, familiar flaws were exposed in City’s Champions League run and they rarely showed their true fluency.
Even a victory for Manchester City this weekend wouldn’t guarantee Pellegrini a job at the club next season. Indeed, unless The Blues spank Manchester United, you do feel that the writing is on the wall for Chilean.
Radamel Falcao
Falcao really caught the imagination of the Manchester United fans when he signed for the club in August. After years of austerity Manchester United finally won the battle for some A-list talent.
And his first few games for the club were full of promise. A wonderful assist against Leicester in game in which he also hit the bar with a sublime first touch – Falcao appeared every bit a creature with the finest football instincts.
But, just as he was finding a place in the team he got injured and was sidelined for over a month. Meanwhile it was becoming increasingly apparent that Manchester United were struggling to fit their other centre forwards, Wayne Rooney and RvP into the same side in Louis van Gaal’s systems.
6 months on and Falcao is a peripheral and lonely figure at the club, bereft of form and confidence and looking on from the bench. The idea of Manchester United, or any club for that matter, paying the mooted £43m for his services at the end of the season seems ridiculous. Falcao’s only hope of staying at Manchester United is if his price is dramatically reduced and he somehow gets gametime between now and the end of the season. With the team flying and just 7 games to go, this currently appears to be a distant prospect.
FINAL WORD: If I were foolish enough to be a gambling man, which I am, I would bet on both to leave, which I have.
Manchester United and City fans: Is there any way back for Falcao and Pellegrini?
