Manchester United v Manchester City: 5 reasons Mourinho will emerge victorious

With the Manchester derby taking place on Sunday, here are five reasons Jose Mourinho will emerge victorious.

Can anyone stop Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City? Many are ready to hand the Citizens the title before Christmas, but it is a little premature for that. Especially if Jose Mourinho has anything to say about it.

Mourinho’s charges are in second place and look to be the nearest credible rival in the league table. They also happen to be Manchester City’s nearest neighbors geographically speaking. Sir Alex Ferguson famously dubbed City as “noisy neighbors” who like to talk. In the lead up to the latest Manchester derby, both sides have made plenty of noise.

Guardiola and Mourinho have resumed their passive-aggressive war of words. It is obvious this occasion means a great deal to both men. They say familiarity breeds contempt, and these two are very familiar with each other.

Their relationship goes back over 20 years to when Mourinho was on the coaching staff at Barcelona during Guardiola’s playing days. Fate has brought these two together again and again, and it is one of the most fascinating personal rivalries in the game.

Both managers would love to beat the other on Sunday, but, ultimately, it will be Mourinho who emerges victorious. Here are five reasons why.