Manchester United has an opportunity to build on their current momentum by securing a second consecutive victory in their derby match against their rivals, Manchester City, this weekend.
Ruben Amorim’s squad entered the international break following a hard-fought 3-2 victory at home against Burnley, but they now face a significant challenge away at the Etihad Stadium – although Pep Guardiola’s team has also demonstrated some weaknesses.
City has suffered defeats in two of their first three matches this season and are feeling the pressure as they approach this game, which they cannot afford to lose if they wish to remain competitive with teams like Arsenal and Liverpool.
Last season, United triumphed in this matchup with a 2-1 victory away from home – marking Amorim’s second win against Guardiola in the 2024-25 season – thus he will likely feel quite optimistic about achieving a favorable outcome.
Mirror Football provides an analysis of the latest news and rumors concerning Manchester United in anticipation of the Manchester Derby.
Sean Dyche tipped to replace Ruben Amorim
Amorim will undoubtedly face pressure if he continues to achieve unsatisfactory results this season, with some analysts suggesting that he should be dismissed after leading the team to a 15th place finish last season.
United has secured only one victory under the Portuguese manager in the 2025-26 season, and the club’s executives will be anticipating that he delivers more favorable outcomes in the near future.
If Amorim were to be relieved of his duties in the future, several prominent managers would likely be associated with the position – including former Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane, who has frequently been speculated to be a candidate in recent years.
However, former Burnley, Southampton, and QPR player Charlie Austin has proposed a more unconventional choice, endorsing his former Clarets manager Sean Dyche for the position. He mentioned that while Zidane would be his top choice, if Zidane were unavailable, he would select Dyche because he would provide the team with “structure.”
“I think he’s got to go, if it’s my decision, I’m going after Zinedine Zidane,” he said. “Ultimately, there are a different set of managers that you’ve got to be looking at, because the situation Manchester United are in, I would take Zidane but is he the right man for the job and how we see them, probably not.
“In my honest opinion, you have to look at the job Sean Dyche did at Burnley, what he did at Everton,” Austin added. “For me, he stabilised the club, at least he’s going to put structure in there.
“Zidane is the top of the tree for me, but what the club needs now is structure because that is something they do not have. I know Manchester United fans will look at me saying, ‘he said Sean Dyche’, no, they need structure [and] that is a man who will come in and make the team a lot better than what we are all seeing.”
Onana hails Trabzonspor welcome
Amorim is aware that he will not have Onana available in his squad this weekend, as the Cameroonian goalkeeper has been allowed to join Turkish club Trabzonspor on loan, with no loan fee or purchase obligation stipulated in the agreement.
United acquired young goalkeeper Senne Lammens on the final day of the transfer window, and he is now anticipated to take on the role of the club’s new No 1.
Onana faced significant scrutiny during his tenure at Old Trafford due to a series of errors, including several during the team’s embarrassing Carabao Cup elimination at the hands of League Two team Grimsby this season.
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