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Entertainment
Neil Shaw

Couple divided by football find perfect holiday home ahead of Manchester derby

Warring lovers divided over their support for Man United and Man City have found the perfect holiday property ahead of the Manchester Derby - as its decor is split half-blue and half-red. United fan Chantel and City-supporting Dan rented the chalet on Booking.com in Manchester city centre, which comes kitted out with a colour-split bed, bathroom and sofas.

The one-bed rental's exterior is painted half blue and half white along with the border fence - and there's even a coloured loo roll for each. Bed sheets, mugs and cushions are also assigned to the red or blue side of Manchester to avoid Dan and Chantel having to use ones the same colour as their opposing team's shirt.

As Manchester United prepare to host Manchester City in the Premier League on Saturday, families across the city will be divided by their passionate support for the city's historic clubs. In the hope of bringing families together Booking.com took inspiration from the popular-yet-controversial half-and-half scarves to construct the bizarre property.

The 7x5m chalet was listed at just £18.81, in homage to the year of the clubs' first clash, and fans Chantel and Dan jumped at the chance. It stands in the middle of both United's Old Trafford stadium and City's Etihad Stadium on First Street, Manchester City Centrel.

The property was available for one night only and following the derby's full-time whistle Booking.com say it will be donated to a Manchester scout camp. Fan culture expert and Editor of United We Stand Magazine Andy Mitten explains the rivalry between City and United is as intense in family homes as it is inside the two clubs' stadiums.

Andy said: "Friends and families are divided. There are parts of Manchester which are more red or more blue, but you'll find fans of both clubs all over.

"There's an edge to the rivalry and you can see that with the atmosphere inside the ground. It can be tense and exhilarating. Fans are happy or sad, depending on the result. You have fans watching the game in the stadium, then fans in the pubs in the city centre and fans watching in pubs in the part of Manchester where they're from."

Fan of both clubs have been known to avoid objects the same colour as their opposing team and Andy says this tribalism has become more intense in recent years.

Andy said: "It's a bit sad admitting that you won't have ketchup because it's red, but City did once produce a blue ketchup so as not to cause offence. Fans used to watch United at home one week and City the next, but it was more normal in the 50s and 60s when away travel was more difficult.

"I know a couple of these fans. they tend to favour one club over the other but want both Manchester clubs to do well. There aren't many of them since football is so tribal, but they exist."

The property's listing describes how the house can help fans or travel companions 'come together despite their split allegiances'.

Senior Vice President of the booking firm's Trips Division Matthias Schmid believes the house represents how football brings Manchester together under one passionate roof. Matthias Schmid said: "Whenever Mancunians travel the globe, often the first thing they are asked is whether they are a 'red or a blue'. They are brought together by their love of football.

"There's a warmth and vibrancy in Manchester that is unrivalled anywhere else in the world. Even in rare circumstances of apparent division, there is always an underlying unity. Manchester is one, no matter which side you're on. Once the final whistle blows after the match, the property will be donated to a Manchester scout camp, creating a long-term legacy in the local community."

Manchester's two teams have gone head-to-head 188 times and represent two of England's most successful clubs, winning a combined 95 honours. This weekend's match is tipped to be one of the most hotly contested in a decade as Eric Ten Hag's revived Red Devils look to capitalise on City's poor recent form.

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