Manuel Pellegrini

The Manchester derby in September 2013 was not just Manuel Pellegrini's first since his appointment as manager of Manchester City. It was also David Moyes' first since he had succeeded Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United. Both, at that point of the season, were contenders for the Premier League title.

Pellegrini was managing in England for the first time, having impressed in La Liga through the football played by his Málaga, Real Madrid and Villarreal teams. Expectations were also high around Moyes, who had inherited a squad who had just won the title.

City produced an impressive display of attacking football to beat the defending champions comfortably, though. Speaking exclusively to The Coaches’ Voice, Pellegrini reveals the tactical approach that inspired the victory, and that did so much to inspire the belief that led them to that season’s title.

Starting line-ups

Manchester CityManchester United

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Manchester City4-4-2

Manchester United4-4-1-1

1Joe Hart

1David de Gea

5Pablo Zabaleta

12Chris Smalling

4Vincent Kompany

5Rio Ferdinand

33Matija Nastasic

15Nemanja Vidic

13Aleksandar Kolarov

3Patrice Evra

25Fernandinho

25Antonio Valencia

42Yaya Touré

16Michael Carrick

15Jesús Navas

31Marouane Fellaini

8Samir Nasri

18Ashley Young

9Álvaro Negredo

10Wayne Rooney

16Sergio Agüero

19Danny Welbeck

Author: Ali Tweedale