Mazraoui relishing derby game against rivals Liverpool

Manchester United face off against archrivals Liverpool on Sunday, 01 September 2024, at 17:30 at Old Trafford. The game, which will be shown live on Showmax Premier League, sees Dutch managers Erik ten Hag and Arne Slot once again renew their rivalry, this time on English soil.

Manchester United’s new Moroccan signing Noussair Mazraoui is no stranger to big derby games.
Having played in the Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund derby, as well as the Ajax Amsterdam and Feyenoord derby, the defender knows how to deal with the intense pressure that comes with games of this nature.

So come Sunday, Mazraoui says he will be ready for anything that his new archrivals Liverpool will throw at him and his teammates.

The two biggest clubs in England face off for the first time this season, in what is expected to be an intense affair.

The game has an added layer of intrigue to it, with Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag and Liverpool’s new manager Arne Slot renewing their rivalry on English soil.

Mazraoui says he is relishing the derby game. “I heard about the rivalry between the two teams in the past couple of days,” says Mazraoui.“After the game, there is a two-week international break, and so we either will have very happy Man United fans or very happy Liverpool fans. This game is something really big because the two teams are so close to each other, they are two big clubs that have history. I am looking forward to it.”

The Moroccan says that his new teammates have spoken to him about the rivalry between the two clubs.
“They didn’t make mention of anything specific, but did say that it is a game which sets the mood for the upcoming weeks for everyone including the players, the manager and the whole of Manchester.”

The defender says his experience in past derbies will help him deal with the pressure of Sunday’s game.
“It will help a lot. Every game is important; however these derby games have something special about them, something you cannot describe.

“Having played these types of game, you kind of know what to expect, so that you’re not really surprised by it and fall into things you don’t want to be in.”

Asked how him and his teammates planned to keep Liverpool’s main man Mohamed Salah quiet during the game, Mazraoui says: “I think everyone knows his qualities. He’s a really good player, but I don’t think we are going to focus on each player of theirs. We are not going to sit and analyse individuals. We know they have individual class players. We are going to focus on ourselves, and that’s the main thing to do.”

He says he also expects the fans to lift the roof off Old Trafford come Sunday. “I have already experienced one home game, when we played the opener against Fulham, and that was crazy. But from what I heard about this rivalry, I expect it to be way crazier this weekend.”

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