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Connor O'Neill

Manchester City no longer fear playing at Old Trafford, claims Pep Guardiola

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola believes his side are no longer scared of playing at Old Trafford.

City, who have emerged as one of the best teams in Europe in recent seasons, have lost just once away to their arch-rivals Manchester United since 2011 - and head to the Theatre of Dreams needing nothing but three points if they are to return to the top of Premier League table tomorrow night.

But Guardiola, who has won both league games at Old Trafford since taking over as City manager three years ago, believes the players the club have recruited over the last couple of seasons have made the home of their arch-rivals a much easier place to go to for his side.

"The reason why is the fact that this club over the last decade has grown a lot and it is not scary to go there," Guardiola told members of the press at his pre-match press conference.

"Before it was maybe more difficult. The players Man City had in the last decade made this game a little bit more equal.

Manchester City players ((Photo by Matt McNulty - Manchester City/Man City via Getty Images))

"Three seasons since I am here we did better than them but here it is winning the title, not beating United.

"I don't make theories about what happened in the past for what is going to happen in the future. Every game is completely different."

While the former Barcelona boss also confirmed that his side will be without Kevin De Bruyne for the game. The Belgium sustained a hamstring injury at the weekend, and Guardiola suggested the playmaker may need a full pre-season to return to his best.

Kevin De Bruyne ((Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images))

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"Unfortunately it was one injury, another one, another one," the City boss said.

"Muscular problems, he had two or three. In England you don't have time to make a preparation.

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"You play every three days that is not the best way. You have to make a good pre-season. Now he has to pay attention, the little details, see if he can play one or two more games this season and next season make a good pre-season.

"He has a lovely family and is incredibly well organised, family, training session, rest. We are going to speak with him to be safe, to be fit. That is what I am going to try and do."

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