Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal says Manchester City have an advantage and are favourites to win when both teams meet on Sunday.
The Citizens lead the Red Devils with two points to sit on the Premier League table and approach the game on the back of a Uefa Champions League win against Sevilla while United were only able to eke out a draw away to CSKA Moscow.
These, van Gaal believes, may give City an advantage on Sunday.
In an interview with reporters, he said: “You have to ask the fans who are the favourites. It’s not so important who is the favourite. If you look at the facts, they are first. They are the favourites I think.
“We are second or third, there is a goal difference and a point difference, so I think they are the favourites.”
The manager remain unperturbed with the distance his team had to cover to honour the game in Russia, while city rivals Manchester City stayed at home to welcome Sevilla.
“We’ve done everything to help the recovery of the players. We didn’t train too hard today, to avoid injuries.
“We have one day less [to prepare after Moscow flight] but we have to do it and that’s what we’re doing. We hope we can beat City.”