Football
Rob Dawson, Correspondent 6y

Mourinho doubts Guardiola claim on Silva's pre-Manchester derby fitness

MANCHESTER -- Jose Mourinho has accused Pep Guardiola of playing mind games ahead of the derby after the Manchester City boss claimed David Silva is a doubt.

Silva was left behind as City flew out to Ukraine ahead of their Champions League clash with Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday.

Guardiola insisted at his news conference on Tuesday that the midfielder's injury is serious enough to make him a doubt for the top-of-the-table clash at Old Trafford on Sunday.

But Mourinho insists he doesn't believe it.

It comes just four days after Arsene Wenger picked Alexandre Lacazette in the Arsenal team to play United at the Emirates on Saturday having previously ruled the Frenchman out.

Asked whether any of his injured players might be available to face City, Mourinho said: "You want the truth or what do you want? You want the truth.

"The truth is Eric Bailly no chance for the weekend, Phil Jones a chance, [Marouane] Fellaini a chance, Zlatan [Ibrahimovic] a big chance and [Nemanja] Matic is injured but will play for sure. [Michael] Carrick no chance.

"I'm telling the truth, he's injured but will play for sure. No stories of Lacazette or David Silva. All the truth."

Asked about his injury problems again by BT Sport, Mourinho went one step further.

He added: "No, we have no injuries.

"Our opponents have all these issues. They have a big issue but in the end everybody is ready to play.

"They have phenomenal organisations. We are a bit more humble.

"When we have a problem, we have a problem. When players are injured, they are injured. I tell you the truth."

Mourinho was able to turn his attention to this weekend's Manchester derby after watching United guarantee top spot in Group A and safe passage into the round of 16 of the Champions League with a 2-1 win over CSKA Moscow on Tuesday night.

Despite finishing top of the group, Mourinho's team could still draw Real Madrid, Bayern Munich or Juventus in the next round.

The 54-year-old, however, insists United are ready to give Europe's heavyweights a tough time if they are handed a difficult tie in Monday's draw.

He said: "I'm not the luckiest guy with draws, so it's better I shut up and I forget it because we only play in February and until then I have to concentrate on the English competitions.

"But I think it doesn't matter the team we get in the draw, that team will not be jumping with happiness to play against us, I don't think so."

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