Forget form, forget the table when Manchester City and Manchester United collide, it’s football at its rawest. And Erling Haaland knows it.
The big Norwegian has come out swinging, declaring that Sunday’s Manchester derby is the perfect moment to rip up City’s stuttering script and kickstart their season.
City’s start has been uncharacteristically shaky three games in, three points dropped twice, and questions already bubbling. That’s not the City standard.
Haaland didn’t mince his words: “Not good enough.” And he’s right. At a club built on relentless winning, anything short of dominance feels like failure.
But here’s where it gets spicy. Pep Guardiola isn’t hiding behind past glories. He’s doubling down, saying he has to grow “bigger shoulders” to carry the pressure.
That’s vintage Pep never satisfied, always chasing perfection. And with Gianluigi Donnarumma set to make his derby debut between the posts, replacing James Trafford after Ederson’s departure, we’re about to see a new dimension in City’s build-up play.
The Italian brings presence, reflexes, and that aura every top keeper carries.
Make no mistake: United will smell blood, but Haaland and City live for these moments. The derby has always been more than three points it’s about pride, momentum, and writing the season’s narrative.
One thunderous header, one rasping left-foot strike from Haaland, and suddenly the doom and gloom disappears.
This isn’t just another game. It’s Manchester. It’s bragging rights. And for City, it’s the spark that could ignite another unstoppable run. Buckle up.
