This may be Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal’s second season in the Premier League but it is his first year with the Red Devils also competing in Europe.
The midweek trips as far away as Russia often prove to be a strain on Premier League teams as their matches in the domestic league can often prove to be just as competitive.
The Manchester derby has come at a very inopportune time for United as the Reds played in Moscow on Wednesday. Now they are to play top of the league Manchester City just 4 days later.
Manager Louis van Gaal has said that the Premier League is “evil” in it’s scheduling and competitiveness. He said:
“It is harder these days, the Premier League is the most difficult league to win because of the high level of the teams. You cannot beat any team easily.
“Every team is a challenge. It is a rat race and then you have to play also in the Champions League.
“It is not so easy and that is why English teams over the last few years have not won the Champions League because of the difference in the leagues.
“There is also no winter break and I think that is the most evil thing of this culture.”
Manchester could be without David Silva and Sergio Agüero in this weekend’s big derby game but, they dispatched of AFC Bournemouth 5-1 last weekend whilst also missing those two big stars.
