Erling Haaland is a monster who breaks records every week for Manchester City – but even the most fearsome beasts can be tamed.
And if Erik ten Hag wants to make a big statement about his culture taking root at Manchester United, a derby win at the Etihad and stopping the Norwegian juggernaut would be a huge step.
Cards on the table: City are big favourites this weekend. The balance of power in Manchester has shifted so far in 10 years that, for the first time in my lifetime, in a combined City-United XI the entire team would be blue from back to front.
You could make a good case, based on form before the international break, that Jadon Sancho might edge out Jack Grealish. But in every other position, it would be hard to deny City hold all the cards now. From Ederson in goal to Haaland up top, man-for-man they look stronger – and I never dreamed I would be saying that when Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
Before United fans are up in arms, that does NOT mean City are unbeatable in the derby. It does NOT mean Haaland is unstoppable. Louis van Gaal won at the Etihad. So did Jose Mourinho. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer did it three times. So Ten Hag is not without hope – but he must get his tactics spot-on and United must execute his game plan to perfection.
Things must be looking up at Old Trafford: Ten Hag has won manager of the month for September, only the second time a United manager has won the award since Ferguson quit (Solskjaer won it in January 2019). And Marcus Rashford has won Premier League player of the month. Wow – he must have been playing out of his skin to beat Haaland to it. To date, Haaland has scored 14 goals in his first 10 games for City and has lived up to every word in the brochure.
Left foot, right foot, in the air, mobility, physical presence, link-up play... he's got the lot. United have a decent record across town, but they will struggle to contain City unless they cut off the supply lines up to Haaland. The way forward might be to play two No.6-type holding midfielders – probably Casemiro and Scott McTominay, at the expense of Christian Eriksen or Bruno Fernandes. For me, that would make United more compact and they could still look to exploit Sancho, Antony and Marcus Rashford – if he's fit – with pace on the break.
Lisandro Martinez and Rafael Varane, whose partnership at the back was showing real promise before the break, will face the ultimate test of discipline and resolve. United have already beaten Liverpool and Arsenal by taking the game to them, and the same tenacity may serve them well at the Etihad because they can't let City dominate the ball as they did last season, when they enjoyed almost 70 per cent possession home and away.
Ten Hag has already come through a severe examination of character after United lost their two opening games against Brighton and Brentford in traumatic fashion. Now Haaland's rampant form, and Pep Guardiola's strategic genius, will provide his biggest test in English football to date.
