Manchester City star David Silva will play in derby as Pep Guardiola says he is fit to face Manchester United

  • Pep Guardiola had said David Silva was a doubt after he missed Shakhtar match
  • But Jose Mourinho believed his old foe was simply playing mind games with him
  • Guardiola is waiting on news about Vincent Kompany and Fabian Delph
  • The Spanish manager insisted the title race would not be won or lost on Sunday 

Jose Mourinho was proven correct after Pep Guardiola revealed David Silva will play the Manchester derby this weekend.

Guardiola claimed Silva was a doubt for the match at Old Trafford earlier this week. Mourinho called his old foe out on that, citing mind games.

And Manchester City will have the Spaniard available - as Mourinho predicted - but are still waiting on news regarding Vincent Kompany and Fabian Delph. 


Pep Guardiola was speaking on Friday afternoon ahead of the Manchester derby

Pep Guardiola was speaking on Friday afternoon ahead of the Manchester derby

Manchester City star David Silva will play in the derby against Manchester United on Sunday

Manchester City star David Silva will play in the derby against Manchester United on Sunday

Pep Guardiola said he was fit to feature in the highly-anticipated game in his press conference

Pep Guardiola said he was fit to feature in the highly-anticipated game in his press conference

He has also said he won't be changing his style of play to combat Jose Mourinho's tactics 

Jose Mourinho had suggested Guardiola was playing mind games with him before the match

‘He’s going to play,’ Guardiola said. ‘He was a doubt to play, that’s why I said what I said. ‘Kompany felt something, he was not comfortable. Fabian was sick.’

City can open up an 11-point lead on United with victory but Guardiola played down the prospect of it being a seismic day in the title race.

‘Going to Old Trafford is a pleasure,’ he added. ‘We’re not going to win the Premier League and not going to lose it.

Guardiola has suggested Fabian Delph could be absent from the game due to illness

Guardiola has suggested Fabian Delph could be absent from the game due to illness

‘We’re just focused after the Shakhtar Donetsk game on making a good performance - that’s the only concern.

‘It is a marathon. We’ve not even reached half way, lots of points to play for. After United we’re focused on recovery and Swansea three days later.

‘A defeat was good to realise. We have no complaints about the results, especially the way we played. United are strong. 

'They conceded 33 shots (against Arsenal) but won the game. They have talent.’

The City boss wants his players to do better, particularly when playing more defensive sides

The City boss insisted that the title would not be won or lost during Sunday's match