I understand perfectly well what these games mean: Edinson Cavani ahead of Manchester derby

Edinson Cavani understands the importance of a derby, having played in a few in his illustrious career. He is eager to be involved on Saturday to help Manchester United get the better of their local rivals. Manchester City travel to Old Trafford on Saturday to play in a mouth-watering derby against their neighbours United in the Premier League. The Uruguayan striker could feature in the fixture for the first time in his career at Old Trafford this weekend. Although he joined the club last season, a variety of reasons prevented him from playing in any of the three clashes with City. This time, though, Cavani is fit and is raring to go. His impact on the pitch in the recent games has been positive. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has also praised him for his performances in training.

“I understand perfectly well what these games mean, and I feel just how significant a derby is for a club and its fan-base,” Cavani told United Review. “I think there are some games that are really special, because of all the history behind them and the rivalry that exists with the other club. They are the kind of games that I think everyone, including me at least, wants to be involved in because they are very special occasions. Games that remain part of history and stay in everyone’s memory.”

Cavani’s no stranger to big derbies, having played in few of them during his spell across Europe. He has played for Paris Saint-Germain against Marseille in Le Classique and Napoli against Juventus as the two teams faced off for the title. “I have one or two memories of other derbies I’ve played in, such as Paris-Marseille, where I’ve been fortunate enough to get on the scoresheet,” Cavani recalled

‘A special game that the fans really want to win’

“You can feel the joy you experience and the passion you feel the moment you score. I’ve played in Napoli-Juventus games which unfortunately isn’t considered a true Clásico, but it is an opponent in a game that, over the years, has announced itself as almost a derby game.

“[In Manchester], last season you’d see the odd fan who’d let you know that the derby game was coming up. But they’ve also spoken to me about how much the Liverpool game means to them too. I think it’s also one of those games that’s talked about an awful lot and where you can feel it yourself, just exactly what it means. That derby shares that same feeling, a special game that the fans really want to win.”

United’s last home game in the Premier League was a humiliating 5-0 defeat against Liverpool. On Saturday though, Cavani and his teammates will be eager to send fans home happy from Old Trafford. He was asked what his message to United supporters would be for the rest of the season. 

Cavani told the club’s matchday programme, “Have faith in their team and have faith in the players who, without a doubt, will be trying hard to perform well and to keep growing and improving so that the faith that they’ve shown us, we might be able to, as they say, pay it back with good results, hard work and by winning stuff. So I’d just like to send best wishes to all the United fans and it really is a pleasure for me to be here at their club.”