Pertemanan Tak Halangi Kemenangan di Derbi Manchester, kata Di Maria
Di Maria: No Friendships on Manchester Derby Day
Editor : Ismail Gani
Translator : Novita Cahyadi
Manchester (B2B) - Pemain sayap Manchester United Angel Di Maria mengaku akan melupakan hubungan pertemanan antara pemain Manchester City selama derbi pada Minggu.
Pemecah rekor transfer Inggris ini akan menghadapi rekan setimnya di Argentina Pablo Zabaleta, Martin Demichelis, dan Sergio Aguero di Etihad Stadium dalam rangka membantu Setan Merah meraih kemenangan tandang pertamanya musim ini.
Mantan bintang Real Madrid telah mencetak tiga gol sejak pindah ke Old Trafford, dan mengaku jalinan pertemanan tidak akan mempengaruhi pertandingan.
"Kami berteman baik selama bertahun-tahun dan apapun yang terjadi, apapun warna baju kamu, kamu tetap bisa melihat satu sama lain secara sosial," katanya kepada wartawan seperti dilansir goal.com.
"Tetapi sekali kamu ada di lapangan, kamu akan melupakan itu semua. Setiap orang berjuang untuk seragamnya."
"Ketika kami melihat satu sama lain di terowongan sebelum pertandingan, saya pikir benar untuk mengatakan "Hai' dan saling menyapa -entah itu mantan rekan setim atau teman baik," katanya.
"Itu normal, sepanjang kamu ingat bahwa kamu berjuang untuk klub dan seragam setelah 90 menit dimulai," tambahnya lagi.
Manchester - The former Real Madrid winger will come up against a number of his Argentina international team-mates on Sunday but insists when on the pitch those relationships are forgotten.
The British-record signing will face Argentina team-mates Pablo Zabaleta, Martin Demichelis and Sergio Aguero at the Etihad Stadium as he looks to help the Red Devils to their first away win of the season.
The former Real Madrid star has found the net three times since moving to Old Trafford, and though he admits he will acknowledge his fellow countrymen in the tunnel, their relationships will have no impact on the game.
"We’ve got good friendships over the years and no matter what the colour of your shirt, you still see each other socially," he told reporters.
"But once you’re on the field, you forget all that. Everyone is fighting for the shirt."
"When we see each other in the tunnel before games, I think it’s right to say ‘Hi’ and greet each other – whether it’s an ex-team-mate or a good friend.
"That’s normal, as long as you remember that you fight for the club and the shirt once the 90 minutes start."
