Izuchukwu OkosiManchester City and Manchester United managers Pep Guardiola and Eric ten Hag have weighed in on the Manchester derby on Sunday during their press conferencess as both managers jostlef or supremacy.
Speaking on the key battle between his top striker Erling Haaland and United’s Lisandro Martinez, Guardiola played down the talk of Haaland having the upper advantage against the diminutive centre back.
“I like when people underestimate players for size. He can tell them, ‘I’m here and a good player’. He’s a fantastic player, aggressive, good build-up. United paid this money, Erik [ten Hag] knows him.”
“It’s not the first time he’s [Lisandro Martinez] played against taller strikers, he handles it. Important thing is to be intelligent, brave. As for the crosses, Erling [Haaland] is taller, we will see what happens,” the Spaniard told the media.
Erik ten Hag was asked about his faith in captain Harry Maguire despite his error-strewn performances: “I have to coach him [Maguire] and back him. I back him because I believe in him. I can see his qualities.
“Quality is there. Almost 50 caps for England, he has high potential. Then it is about him. We all believe in him.”
Ten Hag also touched on his coaching stint under Pep Guardiola and the latter’s belief that Eric ten Hag’s successor will be a good fit for the club:
“It’s a nice compliment, first. But I’m 100 per cent convinced I choose Man United with everything in it. And I didn’t regret it for one second until now.”
“I approach this [fixture] by looking at ourselves. #mufc, we want to win every game. The aim for Sunday is nothing else. We have to do our best and of course a good plan, and the execution.”
“I have played many derbies! I know what they are, what the rivalry, what they do with each other. I know it is the most important game in the Manchester area,” the Dutch tactician who worked with Guardiola whilst T Bayern Munich stated.
The game kicks off 2pm Nigerian time.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio.
He worked there for 13 years until October 2017.
Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch.
He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations.
Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line.
Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.
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