Happy Derby Day, blues! If you're anything like me this morning, you'll be lay in bed, quaking with untameable fear ahead of tonight's game. We're favourites, despite anything our gaffer may have to say, and the extra burden intensifies the fear factor just that little bit more. Hopefully come 21.30pm this evening, the nerves will be settled by a crisp glass of Peroni or two as we celebrate yet another Derby Day win. Let's hope!
But the gossip must go on, and there's definitely enough to get your teeth into this morning.
According to the Daily Star, Joe Hart has emerged as a £25m target for Spanish giants Real Madrid. The 26-year-old is reportedly seen as a long term replacement for Iker Casillas who has fallen down the pecking order at the Santiago Bernabeu and has also been linked to the blues in recent months. Hart's future had been in doubt after being dropped by Manuel Pellegrini last November, but the goalkeeper appears to have relocated his best form as the blues begin their push for the Premier League title.
The Star also believe that Bacary Sagna will join Manchester City on a free transfer this summer. The Frenchman has reportedly turned down a £9m offer from Inter Milan in favour of staying in the Premier League and the blues are now favourites to snatch the defender away from any other potential suitors.
(Bacary Sagna would prefer to stay in the Premier League when his contract expires this summer)
In other news, Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho has poked a cheeky dig at City's arch-rivals ahead of the game by revealing how surprised he was with United's shambolic showing last September. The blues mutilated David Moyes's men in a 4-1 win last September, but the 28-year-old expects a completely different challenge this time round.
"I was surprised how badly United played that day. It was the first time I'd played them after joining City. They are a club with a lot of history, with very good players and they were the champions but we won easily,'' Fernandinho said in an interview with the Daily Express.
(The Brazilian was surprised with how easily his side beat Manchester United last September)
"That game against us was a long time ago and the situation is different now because we are fighting for the title and they are not. They are just fighting for honour now.
"It has been a bad season for them but I saw their Champions League game against Olympiakos on television and they played very well.
"This will be my first game at Old Trafford and I am looking forward to it. We will go there expecting to win. They are all big games for us now. We know we cannot afford to drop a single point. This derby and the game at Arsenal on Saturday will both be like cup finals. We have to look to win them both.”
And finally, Manuel Pellegrini has insisted his side do not go into tonight's game as favourites, despite sitting 12 points above their hosts. In his pre-match press conference, the Chilean attempted to remove the pressure from the shoulders of his players, but called on them to put in an important performance.
(Manuel Pellegrini insists his side are not favourites ahead of tonight's clash)
"I don't think we are favourites in any game," said the Chilean.
"We are in a good moment but we are playing against a big team in their own stadium, so I don't think we are the favourites.
"Of course we always expect to go and win every game but, I repeat, just because Manchester United have had a difficult season it does not mean we are going to win. We have to go there and play a very good game."
