Derby date for the diary

We’ve had verbal digs and simmering glares. Meltdowns and malice. Even the odd eye-gauge, because why not?

Now, long-time followers of the Pep Guardiola/Jose Mourinho psychodrama could be set for another little nugget of fun: the prospect of the Catalan sealing the Premier League title against his eternal rival. With loads of games in hand. In a Manchester derby. Yes, The Warm-Up also just shivered with anticipation.

Manchester City are now very much on course for a neighbourhood party against United, having re-extended their lead to 16 points by yawning their way past Stoke City last night. If they win at Everton, they can seal the deal against Mourinho and Co. on April 7.

On current form, you’d expect them to get the job done with plenty to spare, too. The Stoke game at times felt like a training match, with Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling both stepping up their recoveries from injury, and David Silva nonchalantly claiming a brace. Sergio Aguero’s absence was barely felt.

United’s win over Liverpool ensured they will avoid the ignominy of having to give a pre-match guard of honour, like they did at Stamford Bridge in 2007, but it could be every bit as galling a day. The Warm-Up just asks that the tensions that bubbled over in the tunnel at Old Trafford are allowed to bubble over in public areas this time. For the neutrals, you know?

Sans Pellegrino

Southampton’s bloodless loss to Newcastle at the weekend proved to be the last staging post for Mauricio Pellegrino. The Argentine received his marching orders last night after managing just one win in 17 in the Premier League – a run that has left Saints teetering above the relegation zone.

Pellegrino can have no complaints, having averaged just 0.93 points per game over 30 league matches, and you wonder whether the seasiders will regret not pulling the plug sooner; his replacement, after all, will have just eight games to turn things around.

The current favourites to take over, incidentally? Marco Silva and Mark Hughes, both of whom have enjoyed fantastic seaso… oh.

De Boer war

It’s reassuring to know that, for all his grumpiness these days, Mourinho is still able to dig out the keys to the zing factory when circumstances demand it. He just needs a bit of provocation, and Frank de Boer’s recent comments about Marcus Rashford (“It’s a pity that the manager is Mourinho”) certainly seemed to do the trick.

The Portuguese’s response yesterday was slow and savage. “I read something,” he said, “some quote from the worst manager in the history of the Premier League, Frank de Boer – seven matches, seven defeats, zero goals – saying it was not good for Rashford to have a coach like me.

“The most important thing for me is to win. If he was coached by Frank he would learn how to lose, because he lost every game.”