Time may already be running out for Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho

JOSE MOURINHO heads into his second Manchester derby with the pressure on his shoulders building already.

By Chris McKenna

Victory tonight for the Manchester United boss against Manchester City and it will be released immediately, but defeat will put his side in a real crisis less than 90 days into the season.

Mourinho is desperate for a win after a 4-0 hammering by Chelsea on Sunday even if it comes in the much-maligned EFL Cup rather than the league, where they trail leaders City by six points in.

But while panic swirls around, Mourinho remains calm and confident because of what happened in the meeting between the two teams back in September.

The United manager believes he may have spotted a sign of weakness in his great rival Pep Guardiola even though City won the Premier League encounter at Old Trafford.

Goals from Kevin De Bruyne and Kelechi Iheanacho were enough to take the three points.

But as United chased an equaliser after Zlatan Ibrahimovic pulled one back, Guardiola did something out of character.

Man City striker Kelechi Iheanacho celebrates scoring at Old Trafford in the last derby

The Spanish manager took off striker Iheanacho for defensive midfielder Fernando early in the second half.

Mourinho reckons City were holding on and launching long balls. The very opposite of everything Guardiola teaches.

He sniffed blood and reckons it was a sign that Guardiola was rattled, at least according to those close to the United boss.

Mourinho will be hoping that, if Guardiola really was panicking, his rival is still feeling fragile.

This will be the 18th time the pair will have met as rival managers with eight wins for Guardiola, three for Mourinho and seven draws.

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho and Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola meet again tonight

There have been classic games, touchline rows and post-match spats.

Mourinho will be hoping that, if Guardiola really was panicking, his rival is still feeling fragile.

This will be the 18th time the pair will have met as rival managers with eight wins for Guardiola, three for Mourinho and seven draws.

There have been classic games, touchline rows and post-match spats.

The worst night for Mourinho was no doubt the 5-0 hammering Barcelona handed his Real Madrid side in 2010.

But Mourinho now believes – even despite their differing starts in the Premier League – it is a much more level playing field in Manchester.

The United boss is aware of the supreme strength of City’s squad, but knows it is not as good as the one Guardiola had in Spain.

There is no Lionel Messi or even passers of the class of Xavi and Iniesta - and those three could cut through any defensive block Mourinho could put up.

That gives Mourinho confidence even if his catalogue of big names are currently misfiring and his side remain error-prone at the back.

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho is under pressure already at Old Trafford

Despite all the history and sly digs from the past, there is a clear respect between the two managers.

Mourinho actually admires his opposite number, even if he would be hesitant to admit it in public.

But there will be no love lost tonight on the touchline with a place in the EFL Cup quarter-finals up for grabs.

The United boss needs a win more than Guardiola and will hope to expose a big enough gap in his rival’s armour to get it.

But Mourinho now believes it is a much more level playing field in Manchester.

That gives him confidence even if his big names are misfiring and his side remain error-prone at the back.

Despite all the history and sly digs from the past, there is respect between the two managers.

But there will be no love lost tonight on the touchline with as the two manager’s lock horns for a place in the EFL Cup quarter-finals up for grabs.

The United boss needs a win more than Guardiola and already hopes he has found a big enough chink in his rival’s armour to get it.

 

            

Veteran midfielder Michael Carrick certainly knows how victory over City tonight could quickly put the spirng back in United’s step following the drubbing against Chelsea.

“This is obviously a chance to bounce back,” said Carrick, speaking to tonight’s edition of Match Day Live on MUTV.

“It was a tough defeat for everyone to take and we are aware of what that brings.

“To have a game so big so quickly changes the focus and it gives us a chance to bounce back.

“It is a tough game. I know they have had a tough run themselves, but the quality they have got speaks for itself and we are well aware of what the game is going to bring. We are looking forward to it.”