Cole: It's Not About Jose & Pep

Andy Cole insists the rivalry between Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola will have no bearing on the outcome of Saturday's Manchester derby.

The two successful managers locked horns in La Liga, at Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively, and much of the media attention ahead of the Old Trafford encounter has focused on the men on the touchline.

However, former United and City striker Cole has stressed it is the players on the pitch who will be the only ones to influence the result with the Blues certain to miss suspended leading scorer Sergio Aguero.

Cole, speaking at a Tag Heuer event at the Trafford Centre in Manchester, was asked by MUTV what impact the two high-profile bosses will have at the weekend and replied: "After picking the teams, none.

"I've got to be brutally honest - playing for Sir Alex [Ferguson], he let you know that, once he picks his team, it's down to the players. A lot has been made about the two managers not getting on as well as people would expect but, ultimately, it's about picking the best players for the derby game.

"Since Jose became United manager, he's had a different outlook on things and has been very good. He wants his team to play well and play good football. Guardiola is doing the same sort of thing, he wants to get his methods across, and I think it makes it even more exciting.

"Both sides have started off so well and are looking like teams who can go on and win the Premier League. It's an opportunity for both to put a marker down as it's two teams who genuinely believe they can win the title this season."

Aguero's ban is a big blow for the visitors while Marcus Rashford is pushing for inclusion in Mourinho's side after following up his late winner at Hull City with a hat-trick for England Under-21s against Norway in midweek.

"It's massive [for City's plans]," Cole said. "It's like saying Zlatan [Ibrahimovic] or Wayne Rooney can't play for United. I don't think anyone at United will be disrespectful about City whoever they play up front but Aguero gives them an added edge and it could be a slightly easier ride knowing he's not playing. To be honest, everyone would prefer not to play against Aguero.

"Rashford has gone about his business nicely. He's answering questions which is what you want him to do and it's a decision the manager has to make. Watching him at the Etihad last season, his pace caused a hell of a lot of problems and Mourinho could turn around and play him because he knows what he can do. It'll be interesting if he does go in [to the team] at the weekend."