Pep Guardiola defends Andre Onana as Jamie Carragher slams Erik ten Hag

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Pep Guardiola defends Andre Onana as Jamie Carragher slams Erik ten Hag
Pep Guardiola defends Andre Onana as Jamie Carragher slams Erik ten Hag

Manchester United are set to face rivals Manchester City in a derby clash at Old Trafford on Sunday, with Erik ten Hag's side hoping to continue their recent good form.

The Red Devils have won their last three games in all competitions, picking up victories over Brentford, Sheffield United and Copenhagen. However, reigning champions City will pose a much tougher challenge and United will need to be at their best if they are to emerge victorious.

United have received a boost ahead of the game, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka returning to training ahead of the derby while Ten Hag revealed Casemiro faces a "race against the clock" to be fit for Sunday. Here is all the latest news from Old Trafford.

Guardiola defends Onana

City boss Pep Guardiola has hailed Andre Onana, insisting he has a "high opinion" of the United goalkeeper despite his struggles following a summer move from Inter Milan.

"I remember we have a common friend who spoke very highly of him but personally I met him in Amsterdam," Guardiola said in his pre-match press conference. "He's an exceptional player and now at United.

Marcel Sabitzer completes Man Utd transfer after last-minute deadline day dash dqxikeidqkikdinvMarcel Sabitzer completes Man Utd transfer after last-minute deadline day dash

"Everyone needs time [to adapt to the Premier League], not just the managers but players, keepers. Everyone. Sometimes people are quicker but I have a high opinion of him as a keeper."

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Pep Guardiola defends Andre Onana as Jamie Carragher slams Erik ten HagJamie Carragher has laid into Manchester United (PA)

Carragher criticises Ten Hag

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher believes United's style of play under Ten Hag is "stale" and claimed they are currently "in an unfulfilling holding pattern".

"Manchester United resemble a team reaching the end of a cycle, not one still rebuilding under a relatively new manager," Carragher said in a column for the Telegraph. "Despite winning their last three games, the football is stale and the symptoms of regression are visible; there is a lack of style and panache, few of Erik Ten Hag's signings are consistently performing, and players such as Harry Maguire and Scott McTominay - who the manager was willing to discard last summer for the right price - are back in favour.

"United are in an unfulfilling holding pattern, seeking to eke out results and get by before their next refresh. Watching United's victory against Copenhagen in midweek, the game reminded me of Gerard Houllier and Rafa Benitez's final year at Liverpool, where it felt we were trying to find ways to win despite our general lack of quality, relying on 'moments' rather than brilliantly choreographed team patterns."

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Pep Guardiola defends Andre Onana as Jamie Carragher slams Erik ten HagReports have claimed Casemiro is regretting his decision to join United (Getty Images)

Berbatov makes Casemiro claim

Former United striker Dimitar Berbatov has urged Ten Hag to start planning for life after Casemiro following reports from Spain that the midfielder is regretting his decision to join the club.

"I hope this is just a bad rumour because it's going to bring unwanted heat towards him in a moment where he's not playing how he used to play," Berbatov told Betfair. "So, I hope it's nothing but a rumour and that there's nothing to it.

"Time is going by, and he's getting older, so he needs to be smarter in how he plays the game, how he approaches games, how he reads the game. If United are going for a younger midfielder, who they're going to build as a replacement, that's not a problem. You can buy someone who is 21, take him in the team, try to slowly adjust them to English football, and you need this because Casemiro is 31."

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Man Utd deadline day live updates as Sabitzer completes loan moveMan Utd deadline day live updates as Sabitzer completes loan move

Matthew Cooper

Casemiro, Dimitar Berbatov, Erik ten Hag, Jamie Carragher, Andre Onana, Pep Guardiola, Manchester United FC

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