Believe The Hype - Manchester Derby Preview

With just hours to go until the most anticipated Carling Cup match in recent memory, actually the most anticipated in distant memory, it is time to preview the semi-final second leg between the Manchesters United and City.

So why all the interest? This is only the Carling Cup, for Eric’s sake! One word: Cash. It’s sad but it’s true. Yes, the football is all that matters, but final scores are a result of the players on the pitch.

The other day my colleague Damo and I went to do some interviews at a charity event frequented by some of the finest international rugby players in Britain and Ireland: Geordan Murphy, Danny Care and the like, players that in a week or so will be watched around the world as they ply their trade in the Six Nations.

While I do like rugby more and more these days but remain firmly in the football camp, Damo is a big rugger fan. He must be to wear a hoody in the putrid flag colours of his beloved Harlequins, as he is today. Sky blue, green and brown – nice.

I have interviewed some of these players in the past and again I noticed that they just seemed like normal guys and didn’t have the aura that footballers do when you meet them. Damo agreed even though he is a bona fide egg chaser.

Why? We decided it was down to cash. While these rugby players earn up to £100,000 a year, top footballers earn more in a week. Yes, they earn over 50 times more despite rugby being arguably more physically demanding.

Without the money spent by Sheikh Mansour, the game tomorrow would not have the same aura about it either. Although it is not fashionable to admit it, money must subconsciously affects our thoughts and actions in ways we may not realise. Having said that we very consciously chase the dollar all day long while slogging away in our chosen professions.

City are desperate to win tomorrow. Neutrals are keen to see whether their newly assembled playing squad can beat their more illustrious neighbours over two legs. For United it is about saving face. It will be more relief than elation if United beat City in a tournament that has traditionally been seen as an opportunity to give fringe players valuable first-team minutes.

Without wanting to belittle City (honest!) this is their biggest match for 34 years. The massive win against Gillingham in the League One play-off final aside, City have not won any silverware since they won the Carling Cup in its previous incarnation (the league cup) in 1976, a fact that United fans take great pleasure in reminding them of as often as possible.

There is no doubt about it, City now have a strong team. Ferguson all but acknowledged this by playing one of his strongest sides in the first leg. In the past he has stuck with the players who have performed well in previous rounds.

The focus in the second leg will no doubt again be on City’s £47 million pound signing, Carlos Tevez, who is on fire at the moment and scored both in City’s 2-1 win in the first leg at Eastlands. However, one player who may be even more decisive is Rio Ferdinand. Remember him?

United’s success last season was built around the defensive trio of Ferdinand, Edwin Van der Saar and Nemanja Vidic. This term all three have been missing for substantial periods, and United have understandably suffered as a result of that and also the more conspicuous loss of their top-scorer Cristiano Ronaldo. Although Vidic is out again with a calf strain, Rio is back and can organise a back line as well as anyone, which may be crucial against a fired up City side.

United have also felt the loss of Tevez. His energy from the bench was infectious, but he often took up similar positions to Rooney, which meant that United’s approach play was rich yet there was often too little to aim for in the box. For that reason it is logical in a tactical sense to prefer a number nine such as Dimitar Berbatov, although the Bulgarian continues to frustrate and will probably do so again tomorrow.

The media interest around Tevez may well work to the advantage of Craig Bellamy, who terrorised United at Old Trafford earlier in the season and scored two excellent goals. With City busting a gut to prove a point United will have to be at their best, but with Wayne Rooney in sparkling form they have a good chance of that at Old Trafford.

So, Rooney vs. Tevez? Seconds out! Round Two!