After last September’s derby defeat, Manchester United manager David Moyes resorted to boxing metaphors.
‘I can take the punches and I am sure there will be more,’ said Moyes in the wake of a 4-1 loss at the Etihad Stadium that gave the first indication of how difficult his debut season at United was going to be.
What nobody expected back then was just how punch-drunk Moyes and United would look at times over the ensuing weeks and months.
If he hasn’t quite been on the canvas this season then he has certainly leant heavily on the ropes. On Tuesday night at Old Trafford one senses he must drag a match-winning performance from his team if United and their supporters are to take anything from a wretched season.
‘The punches have definitely hurt,’ said Moyes on Monday when invited to return to the theme.
‘They’ve hurt more because I joined Manchester United with big expectations that I’m coming to the winning football club.
‘I’ve got a winning mentality and that’s what I wanted to do.
‘So I’m disappointed with myself and I’m disappointed that we’ve been unable to win more. It’s not for the want of trying, that’s for sure.’
Given that Manchester City are deep into a Barclays Premier League title race, Tuesday night’s meeting is more important to them than it is to a team whose domestic aspirations now amount to little more than a salvation of pride.
Such is United’s profile, though, such has been the unending drama of their season, and the focus once again seems centred on the defending champions.
The trouble with the current United, however, is that they only ever look one defeat away from fresh disaster and it’s hard to escape the feeling that if City arrive with the throttle open they may just burn the house down.
