All eyes on Manchester
Few fixtures in football can match the scale of this one.
Every season brings a handful of blockbuster games that supporters circle as soon as the schedule is announced, and the Manchester derby is undoubtedly among them.
I have been counting down the days, eager for the week to disappear so I can finally cover this match. If only the premise of the film Click were real and I could fast-forward straight to kick-off.
Both Manchester United and Manchester City are entering a new chapter, with Michael Carrick leading the red half of the city and Enzo Maresca taking charge of the blue half.
This will also be the first Manchester derby in a decade without Pep Guardiola in the City dugout, a change that feels decidedly strange. It could also be argued that the two sides have not been this closely matched in quality since that earlier era.
Although the fixture is entering a fresh era, its enduring appeal remains untouched. This derby promises to be every bit as compelling as ever.
I cannot wait for the action to begin. Let’s get started.
