Rabat – Ayyoub Bouaddi is preparing for his first taste of the Manchester derby, as Manchester City face Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.
The 18-year-old midfielder has made a promising start to life at City, earning his first Champions League start for the club in Tuesday’s 2-0 victory over Porto. City brought Bouaddi into the starting lineup after investing heavily to sign him from Lille in the summer.
Despite his age and limited experience in English football, the Moroccan international impressed in midfield, providing composure and helping City control the game.
Speaking after the victory in Porto, Bouaddi told reporters that he is already looking forward to experiencing the intensity of the Manchester rivalry.
According to the Manchester Evening News, Bouaddi has quickly adapted to his new surroundings and has remained unfazed by the pressure surrounding his high-profile move.
“It’s one of the most important games, if not the most important game of the year,” the Moroccan playersaid. “It means a lot for the fans and for us. We want to win and will give everything for this game.”
Bouaddi also pointed to City’s performance against Porto as a blueprint for Sunday’s encounter, while acknowledging that the derby could unfold differently.
“We need to keep playing like we did against Porto, in the same way, and then we will see. We cannot predict what is going to happen,” Bouaddi added. “Of course we want to win every game and we will be ready for everything and give everything.”
The midfielder has already shown confidence in his ability to compete at the highest level since completing his move from Lille. He said his calm approach is simply part of his personality, even during the uncertainty surrounding his future before joining City.
“It’s part of my personality,” Bouaddi said. “That is who I am and I try to be myself.”
City will enter Sunday’s derby with nine points from their opening three Premier League matches, while United have collected four points. United also head into the fixture after a 4-0 victory over Sabah in the Europa Conference League on Thursday.
