Pep Guardiola refuses to underestimate Man Utd ahead of derby despite their troubles as Man City boss insists floundering Red Devils 'have biggest quality'

United are four places and 15 points behind City in the Premier League and sunk to a disheartening home defeat by Fulham last week. They also are missing key players including Rasmus Hojlund, Luke Shaw, Lisandro Martinez and Harry Maguire. However, the Catalan pointed out that United had previously been unbeaten in the new year and insisted he was expecting City's rivals to be a threat.

"They went to Luton and beat them, Wolves and beat them, Aston Villa to go and win a few weeks ago. They have the biggest quality," Guardiola told a press conference. "From one action they create something special with set pieces, transitions. Always have been demanding, when they play good, they will win. In 2024 they lost just one game, the consistency is there. [We will] prepare tactically, what we have to do to get three points."

New United minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe has vowed to 'knock City and Liverpool off their perch' and targeted another league title within the next three years. Guardiola refused to comment on Ratcliffe's ambitions but acknowledged how tough it has been for United to reassert themselves at the top since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement in 2013. "Big clubs, you have to win. Not easy for United, an incredible period with Sir Alex. It's not easy," Guardiola added. "The big clubs used to have more patience, now there is a lot of pressure. I don't know the reason why, I'm not there."

Guardiola has won 11 of his 20 Manchester derbies, drawing twice and losing seven times, giving him the best record of any City manager against United. He has also turned the Cityzens into the dominant force in English football.

The Manchester derby is the beginning of a testing month of fixtures for City which will see them face Liverpool, Aston Villa and Arsenal in the Premier League plus a Champions League last-16 second leg against Copenhagen and an FA Cup quarter-final tie with Newcastle. Guardiola added: "How nice [to have this run of fixtures]. We worked so far since we arrived here to live these kind of moments."