Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne believed Manchester United represented a dangerous proposition ahead of the Manchester derby on Saturday which ended goaless.
The neighbours are seperated by just a point in the Premier League going into the big clash at Old Trafford and still remain the same.
United are still smarting from their exit from the UEFA Champions League and De Bruyne believes elimination from Europe’s premier club competition could influence the perdoemance of the Red Devils.
The United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said in his press conference on Friday that his side is under pressure to bounce back, despite winning four consecutive Premier League matches to be seventh and a point clear of City, but five adrift of leaders Tottenham.
United were looking to beat City for the third consecutive match in the top flight for the first time since a run of four victories from 2008 to 2010, and De Bruyne is not underestimating the Red Devils.
“I don’t think the game is more important for them,” said City star De Bruyne.”But we need to be careful because everything that has happened this week, it is a good game for them to change the switch.
“They will want to show a different side to what happened in Leipzig [3-2 loss to RB Leipzig] and we need to be aware of that.”While United have struggled defensively at times in 2020-21, Solskjaer’s side possess an attacking threat.
Bruno Fernandes headlines United’s threat, having been involved in more Premier League goals (15 scored, 11 assists) than any other player since his debut in February.
“They have some new players and maybe they will play a bit more offensively but we will see,” De Bruyne added, after City lost three games to United last season.
“After five minutes you are going to know what is happening in the game. They played defensively and on the counter last season and picked us off really well.
“I remember the home game when we lost 1-2 but we made a couple of mistakes and it was difficult to come back. They won three out of four last year so we need to try and make that right.”
City have won seven Premier League away games at Old Trafford, more than any other visiting side, with six of their seven such victories away to United coming in the previous nine seasons.
