Brazilians Excited By Manchester Derby

07 December 2012

Maicon is relishing taking part in this weekend’s most highly anticipated fixture, the Manchester derby.

It will be the Brazilian defender’s first match for Manchester City against their more successful neighbours, Manchester United.

More than just Manchester bragging rights are at stake this weekend, with both sides anxious to make a claim on the Premier League title race.

And Maicon expects the match to be as feisty as the derbies he enjoyed when he played for Inter Milan against AC Milan, and for Cruzeiro against Atletico Mineiro in Brazil.

"My strongest memory of the Milan derbies was the day Inter won 4-0 (in 2009-10) and we also won the Champions League in the same season," Maicon said, looking forward to this weekend’s mayhem in Manchester.

"It was a great game, a great derby, difficult to forget.

"All over the world, the derby is a different game to any other.

"It is a passionate game, whether you are in Manchester, Milan or Brazil, and I am sure Sunday will be just the same.

"I remember playing for Cruzeiro against Atletico Mineiro, at a time when Mineiro were the better team. We won that game, and it changed our whole season for the better.

"This is something that is built into derbies - it can give the team a boost of confidence for the rest of the season."

Meanwhile, Maicon’s compatriot and fellow defender, Rafael, is also excited by the prospect of the derby, but from a United perspective.

He says that United are determined to exact revenge on City, after they lost twice to them in the league last season, and surrendered the Premier League title to the Etihad.

"There is definitely a determination to get the title back after the way we lost it. It was hard to take,” Rafael said.

"We will never forget how we felt after the last game. We just looked at each other and asked, 'How did we lose that?'

“After last season, we just want the title back."