Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho well aware of City’s ‘cynical’ side

WHILE Manchester City have been earning rave reviews for their free-flowing football and bags of goals, Jose Mourinho has noticed a darker side.

The eagle-eyed Manchester United manager believes that City are not afraid to be cynical when necessary.

Pep Guardiola’s approach means they have so many players going forward that when they lose the ball, they are forced to give away fouls and pick up yellow cards to stop opponents from being able to attack their defence.

And despite dropping just two points all season, the leaders have actually picked up six more yellow cards than United.

Heading into today’s Manchester derby, Mourinho is well aware of this underhand tactic.

“I know when City lose the ball, they often commit a cynical foul,” he says. “I know this.

“It is a strategy that they have. They put lots of people in attacking areas. When they lose the ball, they are many times unbalanced in numbers. They have lots of people surrounding the ball area.

“They have a very strong transition in the next few seconds after they lose the ball and many times, they need what is called a ‘tactical foul’.

“Then it is up to the referee to analyse and to make a decision about it.”

Michael Oliver will be the man in the middle for this huge game having to make the big calls, but one player who won’t be on duty is Paul Pogba.

The Frenchman begins a three-match ban after his red card at Arsenal last week, and Mourinho knows what a loss he is.

When Pogba was out injured from September to November, United went from level on points with City to eight behind them, and the team did not have the same spark.

The United boss reasons: “Do you think I have another midfield player in my team who can make the third goal at Arsenal? We don’t.

“They do other things, they have other qualities. Marouane Fellaini can score an amazing header, Nemanja Matic can shoot from outside the box, Ander Herrera can do other good things.

“But a midfield player to do and create what Pogba did in the third goal against Arsenal, as an example? No. It’s not being pessimistic. It’s just a different way to play football.

“There was a Manchester United with Pogba, there was a Manchester United without Pogba and we have another Manchester United with Pogba.

“He is a player that has an impact on our style of play. Now for the next three matches we have to cope without Pogba and we have to try and win matches without him.”