Alistair you have covered a host of big games in your role as our CITY+ commentator but where does the derby rank for you in terms of special occasions?
They are always very, very special games. I never go into any derby without getting a sense of real excitement.
As a born and bred Mancunian it’s just a special day. Even in times when City were a mile off United it was always maybe an opportunity to derail United when they were going for titles.
City v Manchester United | Match preview
Of course, earlier this month we had the anniversary of City’s famous 5-1 Maine Road win which was the first derby I ever worked on – not as a commentator but doing the action replays for Granada TV
So, it’s always been an occasion I’ve always looked forward to whatever the circumstances and the recent derbies have been special games as well.
That Monday night game in 2012 when Vincent Kompany scored will always live long in the memory as it was the day they effectively won the title.
The FA Cup semi-final finally pushed City through the glass ceiling in many ways. It wasn’t a formality they would beat Stoke in the final but once they beat United I think everyone felt it would be it.
And it’s always a game that excites. Even though Liverpool is the rivalry that has been talked of in terms of the title race these past few years – it never changes for me that it’s the game I still look forward to in the calendar.
Obviously, there were some changes to Pep Guardiola’s squad over the summer. What have you made of City so far this season?
Each season we think it’s impossible for City to get to another level – we always think last season was amazing but how can they kick on?
But they do and there has been a regeneration in lots of ways. Some significant players have moved on like Fernandinho retiring, Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus and Zinchenko but the players who have come in have established the next rebuild if you like.
I think when a manager stays at a club for as long as Pep has there is always a refreshing that needs to take place.
That has obviously happened again and Haaland is an incredible headline grabber, and the stats show he deserves to be.
I do think everything about the way City play has shown them evolving and a team who are playing an even more exciting brand of football. It seems the competition for places has never been more intense and the fact there are so many wide players vying for the two positions to be alongside Haaland just makes it that it more exciting.
You look at someone like Riyad Mahrez who has had the most incredible couple of years and he’s suddenly not guaranteed a starting place and that is how competitive it is at the Club.
The desire to play until the 96th minute is still a big part of the DNA so the evolution hasn’t changed the spirit or determination yet the level keeps getting that notch higher.
And likewise, what has been your take on United and they way they have started?
I’ve watched United two or three times on them one was their game at home to Liverpool and they played exceptionally well. It was almost a statement display as they had come off the back of that horrible display at Brentford when the knives were out.
It takes time for a new manager’s personality to be reflected but I just think there are signs that the personality of the head coach is just starting to take effect.
I do feel that United are building a head of steam before the game and I think they will come into the game with belief which I don’t think l they were back in March.
Of course, the game is also all the more intriguing given it will be the first time Pep Guardiola and Erik ten Hag have met as rival managers. How much are you looking forward to that particular tactical battle?
I’m really looking forward to that. Last season I just felt that United didn’t really have an identity – they were morphing between different styles. They had two managers, and one was a temporary fix.
Ten Hag was probably one of the most coveted head coaches in the world at the time they got him and the fact he is a tactical man and likes to play a possession game and embraces many of the principles that Pep likes makes it all the more intriguing.
I do feel they are not reliant on Ronaldo now which they were last season, and that there is more of a genuine identity about them.
I don’t think unlike in recent years under Mourinho and Solskjaer it will be park the bus and try and knock it on the break.
They will maybe try to match City a bit more so it will be interesting clash and I’m really looking forward to seeing how it plays out.
Are there any areas of the game that you feel could prove pivotal?
The first thing is that Erling Haaland coming up against their two centre halves is the obvious one.
I do think whoever is up against him and it may be Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez you think can they get in his way and stop him from scoring and getting on the end of the chances City will create?
That will be pivotal – how do they cope with a guy who has such a swagger about him and who you do feel the first chance he gets he will take. So can they stop the supply line?
And that’s without even mentioning Kevin De Bruyne as I don’t think anyone can stop him at the moment. I caught him playing for Belgium at Netherlands last weekend and although Belgium ended up losing there were some touches from Kevin which were incredible.
Whether they go man to man or flood the midfield area – it’s a big ask for United to stop KDB.
Are there any particular standout derby memories for you?
There are a few. That 5-1 Maine Road win in 1989 was an unforgettable game so early in my TV career.
I’ll never forget commemorating on that Monday night game when Kompany scored the header. You come up with lines as a commentator and I was so pleased that ‘Cometh the hour, cometh the Captain’ seemed to resonate and I still see that pop up on the big screen at the Etihad even now and as a commentator you want to have moments like that.
But one game will stick out the last at Maine Road and we went to the game with a few Utd fans It was quite an experience and I always remember the intensity of that day.
I wasn’t working, Martin Tyler was the commentator that day, and before the game I spoke to him, and I said was that Shaun Goater was on 98 goals. He had it down at 99 and I said one had been taken away by the dubious goals panel and funnily enough he ended up getting two. So, Martin was really grateful after the game.
I also got married on the day of a Manchester derby. It was a game had got moved to the day of my wedding so a few of my pals who were invited had radios and earpieces and kept messaging me the score.
This will be memorable too. The CITY+ and Recast commentary goes out on audio all around the world. People over the world tune in and this Sunday my wife will be one of those as she has volunteered to do charity work in Kenya so will be listening in deepest Nariobi from 6000 miles away.
And finally looking further ahead beyond how excited are you about City’s overall prospects this season?
It just feels like a bit of a refresh. If you look at the great managers of the last few years like Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson as they stayed for a while, they do have this refresh every two or three years. When players who you thought were part of the furniture moved on and new ones come in.
City have obviously had some great moments in recent years under Pep but you just get the sense that maybe, just maybe, this may finally the year it does happen in the Champions League
I have been saying that for the last couple of years but there is just something about the buzz that has been created by this refresh that allied to the fact that Erling Haaland has been incredible… I just get the feeling this might be the year when all stars align.
And I am very every excited about what we are witnessing right now.
Real Madrid have got stronger which is scary and you would have to throw in PSG too, but you have to put City up there. I know people thought it would happen last year but again you get sense there is something really exciting happening here.
