Manchester City are promising goals but can they break down dogged Manchester United in the battle of style versus steel?

• Manchester City and Manchester United face off in a derby on Sunday 
• Neither manager has created much noise in the build-up to the match 
• City boss Manuel Pellegrini says his side won't ever score then sit back
• Morgan Schneiderlin says a Manchester United win would be a 'statement' 

By Ian Ladyman for the Daily Mail

Published: 18:00 EST, 23 October 2015 | Updated: 18:45 EST, 23 October 2015

With two largely unexcitable, foreign managers currently in office, the preamble to a Manchester derby is perhaps not what it once was. In truth, there was not a great deal of noise from either of the neighbours on Friday.

Thank heavens, then, for the football. This time round, that remains terribly difficult to call as Manuel Pellegrini's City head to United on Sunday knowing that Louis van Gaal's side will overtake them in the Barclays Premier League with a win.

Last season at Old Trafford, City were embarrassed in a 4-2 defeat. Returning to the scene of the crime this weekend, the City manager could only stress that there will be no sanctuary sought in pragmatism or caution. The league leaders — scorers of 11 goals in their last two domestic games — will be heading to Stretford to win.

Manuel Pellegrini (pictured) says his side would not sit back on a 1-0 lead if they went ahead in a match

Louis van Gaal (pictured) and his counterpart Pellegrini have not created much noise ahead of the derby

Asked if style remains fundamental to his team's football, Pellegrini said: 'Absolutely essential, without doubt.

'To prepare to win the title, this team must play the right way or it's not a successful season.

'For me it's the best way to do it. It's best for the club, the fans, the league. It doesn't mean we don't have to defend well, because we do. But in three seasons we've been the best attacking team in the Premier League in terms of scoring goals.

'I think football must be attractive for fans and that means scoring goals. I will never play to just score one goal and then run behind the ball.'

Before conspiracy theorists translate Pellegrini's words into a swipe at rival and arch-realist Jose Mourinho or indeed United's rather more conservative Van Gaal, it is important to understand that this was not the context.

Nevertheless, it is hard to escape the fact that Sunday's game will represent a contrast of style to some degree.

Morgan Schneiderlin (centre) says victory for Manchester United on Sunday would be a 'statement' to rivals

Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart (right) speaks to his manager Pellegrini before training on Friday

Wayne Rooney celebrates his 30th birthday on Saturday, and he tops the goalscoring charts...

United have made satisfactory progress under Van Gaal but a significant percentage of the club's support that remember the best days of Sir Alex Ferguson's time at Old Trafford remain unconvinced about the way their team approach games these days.

Victory over City would still be a victory over City, though. United midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin said on Friday that a win would represent a 'statement' by this team and he has a point, even if Van Gaal was less keen to add to that narrative.

'I'm happy that we are more balanced in our squad,' was his reply when asked if he was happy to have closed the gap on City a little during his time in Manchester.

'If we can compete we have to wait and see. Of course we have started very well when you compare it with last year but when compared with City we are two points behind.

'We were first in the table then lost at Arsenal so we have to wait and see if we can develop further as a team. Only at the end of the season can we say if we have minimised the gap with our competitors.'

Pellegrini and Van Gaal are committed to their teams and both carry some pressure, too. 

Under Sir Alex Ferguson (right) there was a huge build-up to the derby in the weeks leading up to the match

Van Gaal will hope young striker Anthony Martial (right) can continue to impress and score against City

Pellegrini must win the league this season if his position is not to be scrutinised once again while Van Gaal himself knows that a trophy of some description would be handy.

Neither appears to feel the lustre of the derby as much as they may, though, and maybe we should not expect this. Both have experienced them before in other countries and neither is likely to take to his bed in despair as Ferguson did after a 5-1 hiding at Maine Road in 1989 — whatever happens this weekend.

'If you win against a team of the same city, for some people it can be better,' said Pellegrini.

'For me, the most important thing is to demonstrate that you are the best team. It's an important three points and I always say it's a six-pointer because you're playing the team behind you. But it will not be a game that will decide the title.

Much is expected of captain Wayne Rooney (right) too... he can score on the weekend of his 30th birthday

Manchester City boss Pellegrini has declared himself bored of discussing Vincent Kompany (second right)

'For the city it's always a special game. It's different when you win it to when you lose. It's very important for both sets of fans to win, and for both to demonstrate who is the best team in the city.'

In terms of Sunday's teams, Van Gaal perhaps has fewer decisions to make than Pellegrini. This is a United team that largely picks itself and once again Van Gaal will hope for more signs of big game aptitude from young Anthony Martial and a much-needed upturn in form from his captain Wayne Rooney.

Thirty on Saturday, Rooney is a subject Van Gaal is growing tired of. Similarly, Pellegrini has declared himself bored of discussing his own captain Vincent Kompany, a player who has not started a game for his club since the Champions League defeat at home against Juventus on September 15.

Pellegrini denied suggestions that he has an issue with Kompany, despite the central defender playing for Belgium when his club manager presumed him unfit.

Nevertheless, he must decide on Sunday whether to break an improving partnership between Nicolas Otamendi and Eliaquim Mangala in order to bring back a player who does, it must be said, have a habit of playing rather well in these games.

These are the decisions that can determine the outcome of these matches. Just another game? It may feel like that today. It won't by tomorrow.

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