bzekosilva
Well-Known Member
Paul Scholes has branded Manchester City "arrogant" ahead of Sunday's derby at the Etihad.
Manuel Pellegrini's men have lost their last two against West Ham and Newcastle, with their Champions League hopes hanging by a thread.
And going in to this weekend's showdown, Scholes believes City show little respect to the opposition.
"After a week which has brought defeats to West Ham and Newcastle there is something about them – you might even call it a touch of arrogance – that they do not have to take their opposition into consideration," the United icon wrote in the Independent.
"I realise that it is a point I have made before, but I don’t think the central midfield is right, and that they are getting the best out of Yaya Touré. He still looks laboured to me, you might even say he looks a bit bored. He has the ability to step it up when he wants to, and that could be the case on Sunday."
The clash at the Etihad is Louis van Gaal's first derby, with his big-money summer signings also tasting the fierce rivalry for the first time.
And Scholes believes players like Angel Di Maria can write their names into United folklore in the heavyweight fixture.
He added: "These are the kind of games that get remembered for a long time by supporters, on either side of the city’s divide. For players like Shaw, Falcao and Di Maria, it is their first taste of playing against their local rivals. From my experience, it is not a game you want to lose."
Scholes also admitted he expects Van Gaal to bring back captain Wayne Rooney, in place of Juan Mata.
The England man has sat out United's last three games through suspension but boasts the record for the most goals in the derby.
Manuel Pellegrini's men have lost their last two against West Ham and Newcastle, with their Champions League hopes hanging by a thread.
And going in to this weekend's showdown, Scholes believes City show little respect to the opposition.
"After a week which has brought defeats to West Ham and Newcastle there is something about them – you might even call it a touch of arrogance – that they do not have to take their opposition into consideration," the United icon wrote in the Independent.
"I realise that it is a point I have made before, but I don’t think the central midfield is right, and that they are getting the best out of Yaya Touré. He still looks laboured to me, you might even say he looks a bit bored. He has the ability to step it up when he wants to, and that could be the case on Sunday."
The clash at the Etihad is Louis van Gaal's first derby, with his big-money summer signings also tasting the fierce rivalry for the first time.
And Scholes believes players like Angel Di Maria can write their names into United folklore in the heavyweight fixture.
He added: "These are the kind of games that get remembered for a long time by supporters, on either side of the city’s divide. For players like Shaw, Falcao and Di Maria, it is their first taste of playing against their local rivals. From my experience, it is not a game you want to lose."
Scholes also admitted he expects Van Gaal to bring back captain Wayne Rooney, in place of Juan Mata.
The England man has sat out United's last three games through suspension but boasts the record for the most goals in the derby.
