Erik ten Hag told Pep Guardiola something about Manchester United that might not be true

Rene Meulensteen talked to the Manchester Evening News over a coffee in Wilmslow, Manchester earlier this year and Sir Alex Ferguson's former assistant spoke about the season in which Manchester United won the 2012/13 Premier League title.

Meulensteen claimed he never received a complaint from a player about his training sessions and he described that as the 'biggest compliment' during his time at the club, while he also provided unique insight into the culture that Ferguson had created.

The Dutchman discussed the winning mentality, the expectation when preparing for matches and he admitted that United would focus on their own strengths in the build-up for matches. Of course, the opposition would be analysed and respected, but the overwhelming majority of the pre-match preparation was spent on how United could hurt whoever they were playing.

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The balance between focussing on your own strengths and analysing the opponent at Carrington in pre-match preparation has been forced to gradually change over the past decade because United have not been close to being the Premier League's best side.

That has meant analysis of the opposition has taken precedence, with adapting the gameplan against elite sides now more exaggerated, which will be the case against Manchester City on Sunday afternoon in the Manchester derby.

Man City are the Premier League champions and they would have monopolised the division over the last five years if it wasn't for Liverpool's renaissance under Jurgen Klopp. It has been the lesser of two evils for United fans watching the two clubs dominate.

They will dominate possession on Sunday at the Etihad and Ten Hag will have to