RismadarVoice Reporters
September 11, 2026
Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has urged Manchester United to adapt to the fixture schedule ahead of Sunday’s Manchester derby.
City will have two additional days to prepare after beating Porto 2-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday, while United secured a 4-0 victory over Sabah on Thursday.
Maresca acknowledged the difference in recovery time but said such situations were part of football and teams had to adjust.
He recalled that City faced a similar challenge last season before a league meeting with Arsenal, insisting United should be prepared despite the shorter turnaround.
The expanded Champions League format has increased the number of fixtures for participating clubs, adding to the demands on players and coaching staff.
Maresca, who replaced Pep Guardiola, has made a perfect start to his Premier League tenure with three wins from three matches.
United, meanwhile, have collected four points from their opening three league games.
The City manager described Sunday’s derby as an important fixture, stressing the significance of the rivalry and saying his team would focus on maintaining its identity and approach.
“It’s a special game,” Maresca said, adding that City’s priority would be to play their usual game and wait for the outcome.
