Sergio Aguero absence gives Jose Mourinho a Manchester derby headache
Jose Mourinho is more concerned about Sergio Aguero's absence than renewing his battle with Pep Guardiola in the Manchester derby.
Manchester City's Argentinian forward Aguero has been banned after being retrospectively sanctioned for an elbow on West Ham defender Winston Reid last month.
City will no doubt see the six-goal South American as a significant absentee, but United boss Mourino thinks the suspension is more of a hindrance than a help to his own team.
Mourinho and Guardiola have enjoyed 100 per cent starts to life at clubs they joined in the summer, but something has to give when the duo resume hostilities after going up against one another at Real Madrid and Barcelona.
The Portuguese was respectful, if reluctant to talk at length, about Guardiola, calling him a "very good manager" as he focused his attention elsewhere.
More of a concern to Mourinho is the absence of Aguero, which he expects will result in a tactical shift up front for the Blues.
"Yeah, it changes (my approach) because it is more difficult," Mourinho said.
"When Aguero is available, we know that Aguero plays. We know their formation, we know their dynamics and nobody has doubts - when a player like him is ready, he plays.
"In this moment, he doesn't play. They have an amazing reach (in terms of) squad options, and in our job you can have many decisions and different decisions.
"One thing is if he decides to play with (Kelechi) Iheanacho, and another thing is if he decides to play with (Raheem) Sterling. Another one is if he decides to play, for example, with (David) Silva as a fake number nine in between the lines.
"They have so many options that for us in the preparation of the game, we have to go step by step, we have to go situation after situation because we try to reduce the unpredictability of the game, you know?
"We know they have so many options that we try to do that job for the players. It's more difficult. It looks a little bit of a contradiction, but without Aguero it is more difficult."
Aguero will not be the only change for City as recently-acquired goalkeeper Claudio Bravo is set to make his debut, but Mourinho has no need to make alterations.
Doubts Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Luke Shaw and Antonio Valencia have all been given the green light to play, while back-up goalkeeper Sergio Romero and defender Marcos Rojo are available despite only returning to Manchester on the eve of the game.
Meanwhile, Guardiola insisted his relationship with Mourinho has mellowed enough for them to share a glass of wine after their first Manchester derby.
The personal animosity between the two men bubbled over on a number of occasions during a stormy three-year period when they were on opposing sides of the Barcelona-Real Madrid divide.
Now, three years later, they find themselves about to pit their wits against each other in another of world football's more high-profile derbies.
Asked if he would join Mourinho for a drink after Saturday lunchtime's match at Old Trafford, Guardiola said: "I'll accept if he invites me."
The pair first met 20 years ago when Mourinho joined Sir Bobby Robson's backroom team at Barcelona, where Guardiola was a senior player for his home club.
The Catalan said: "The last period in Madrid, Barcelona was not easy for both of us but we met each other two or three weeks ago at the Premier League managers' (meeting) and we spoke fluently with Ronald Koeman, with Tony Pulis and so on, and it was correct. That's all."
Guardiola has only watched one previous Manchester derby all the way through, last season's 1-0 win for United at the Etihad Stadium when he had already signed the contract to become City manager.
His time to soak up the pre-match atmosphere has also been limited and he is reserving judgement on how the fixture compares to previous derbies in which he has been involved.
The 45-year-old said: "In Barcelona, in Madrid every year was the most beautiful derby in the world. Let me live this derby and after I can tell you how it can compare with, in Spain Barcelona-Madrid, and Munich-Borussia Dortmund.
"For the millions on both sides I think it is quite similar, a lot of people talking about good things and bad things, a thousand minutes of analysis of what's going to happen, and that is nice.
"For the painters, for the writers, it would be amazing to do their jobs and a lot of people talk about their books, their talent.
"We are fortunate to be here and live that experience. I'm so happy to be here and to live for the first time in my life a derby in the Premier League and we are going to try to do our best."
German duo Leroy Sane and Ilkay Gundogan could also play but captain Vincent Kompany looks set to have to wait for his first appearance of the season.
Source: PAR
