Ruben Amorim is focused on his own problems rather than Manchester City's as the Manchester United head coach looks to get the better of Pep Guardiola for the third time this season.
Sunday’s Old Trafford encounter is the most low-key derby in years as the Red Devils languish 13th in the standings and the previously all-conquering visitors are fighting for a Champions League spot rather than another championship crown.
Fifth-placed City had won an unprecedented four Premier League titles in a row until struggling for coherency and consistency this term, with the nadir being a rotten end to 2024.
Amorim inflicted two of City’s nine defeats during a 12-game period, with November’s stunning 4-1 Champions League win with Sporting followed by overseeing United's 2-1 turnaround at the Etihad Stadium the following month.
Asked if City have recovered from that or if he still sees some of the same issues, the United boss said: "No, I’m more focused on our problems. I think we have bigger problems than Manchester City.
"They had that run in that moment, but they improved. They can play in different ways. It’s really hard to understand how and to think how they are going to face us.
"They have maybe the best coach in the world, they have top players, so it will be a difficult match but like I said I’m so focused on improving my team that I’m not worried about the improvements of Manchester City.
"Just try to understand how Manchester City is going to play so I can help my players be on top of their game."
Sunday’s match is followed four days later by a key Europa League quarter-final first leg at Lyon for United, with the reverse fixture coming after next weekend’s trip to Newcastle.
The competition is United’s only route to silverware and European qualification, with Amorim indicating his selection at St James’ Park rather than this Sunday could be impacted by the importance of progress.
"We are going to focus game by game," he said. "We have a few days to recover from the last game and then we will have a few games.
"I think the focus in that department will be more on the next one in the Premier League.
"So, we want to win this game, we want to improve in the league table and especially we want to win games. We are going to have full focus on this game."
This weekend’s derby will be followed by a sit-in protest organised by United fan group The 1958, who continue to demand an end to the Glazers’ ownership.
The last Old Trafford sit-in was in August 2023, when thousands of fans stayed behind following a comeback win against Nottingham Forest.
Group spokesman Steve Crompton said: "We protest against 20 years of Glazer greed and mismanagement of our football club.
"We fight to protect fan culture, which our owners, with each passing season, try to dilute and remove the generational match-going fan. On Sunday, we protest by staying in our seat after full-time."
Kevin De Bruyne (above) is set to play his last Manchester derby tomorrow.
The Belgian playmaker announced on Friday that he is to leave City this summer after a glorious decade at the club in which his successes have included six Premier League titles and the Champions League.
The 33-year-old, who is out of contract at the end of the season, has scored 106 goals and made 174 assists in 413 appearances for City since joining the club in 2015.
He could now have potentially just nine games remaining in a City shirt, starting with Sunday's clash at arch-rivals United.
That could be increased to 10 if City beat Nottingham Forest in their FA Cup semi final, and there could be a further seven if De Bruyne participates in the Club World Cup – something which is still to be determined.
Whatever the final number is, manager Pep Guardiola expects the final months of De Bruyne’s glittering City career to be a celebration of his achievements.
Guardiola said: "Still we have nine games, hopefully 10, four at home, that still we can enjoy with our fans.
"He will get, I’m pretty sure, the love and the recognition that all of us, the fans, think that he deserves.
"We remember with a big smile the pleasure that we could share all together with our fans, how when he scored that last goal against Plymouth here, the people sang.
"People here in England, not just in this club, recognise incredibly well the players that have given something unique."
The announcement of De Bruyne’s departure has provided the main talking point ahead of a derby that, unusually, has otherwise attracted little hype.
With City having long since surrendered their Premier League title, securing a Champions League place is now their relatively modest aim. United, meanwhile, are battling just to get into the top half.
"In the last two games, we were good," said Guardiola, reflecting on an FA Cup triumph at Bournemouth and comfortable victory over relegation-threatened Leicester.
"Hopefully we will continue in the last eight games in the Premier League."
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