Derbies A Trigger For Zlatan

Zlatan Ibrahimovic says matches likes Saturday’s eagerly-awaited clash are the type of occasions that "trigger" emotions in players and, as a veteran of derby games across the world, he is more than ready for his first taste of Manchester United versus City.

The 34-year-old has played in a host of local match-ups and he kicked off the derby banter earlier this week with a tongue-in-cheek Instagram post aimed at new Manchester City goalkeeper Claudio Bravo.

Ibrahimovic joked he was yet to have a reply from the Blues new boy as he looked ahead to the weekend’s match at Old Trafford in an exclusive interview with MUTV to be shown on Countdown To Kick-Off on Friday.

"For me, the big games are the ones that trigger you. They’re the games everyone speaks about," he explained. "I have played in many derby games, I’ve played in the El Clasico, the Inter/Milan derby, Ajax and Feyenoord which was the big one there [in Holland] and PSG/Marseille.

"I have played in all of them, the only one I missed was this one. This is coming on Saturday and I am very well prepared, confident and focused, and there is a lot of hard work behind that. We are prepared and we are ready. We just wait for the game now."

Asked if during his short time in Manchester, he had realised the important of this fixture, particularly to United fans, he added: “People are talking about it and build it up and the media are discussing the situations from the red side and the light-blue side and all the investments and transfers and the new coaches. It’s a normal build-up.

"For me, I’ve been through it and I know how it is. We are ready. Everyone came back from the national team break and we are back in action. The team is focused."