It is the first time in 27 years that both sides of Manchester are getting used to life under new management at the same time.

But with the apparent power shift from red to blue now in full swing, both David Moyes and Manuel Pellegrini appear to be under even more pressure to deliver success as early as possible.

Moyes will undoubtedly be under more of a burden to provide instant success at United than Pellegrini will be at City, but with the amount of money City have spent over the years compared to their rivals in Red, can the Chilean master afford to fall at the first hurdle?

Their managerial reigns have begun very differently, with Pellegrini inspiring City to the top of the league, via a quite ridiculous haul of goals from their opening 21 games, as well as their impressive form in the Champions League and Capital One Cup.

Moyes, on the other hand, has begun his United tenure in a disappointing fashion. They’re currently seventh in the Premier League having already lost to the likes of Newcastle, Everton, West Brom, Liverpool and, of course, Manchester City.

It is this kind of start that has got a large number of United fans wondering whether Moyes was the right man to replace club legend and trophy hauler Sir Alex Ferguson after his retirement last season. Is he the man to continue Fergie’s legacy? The only way he is going to convince everyone that he is would be to win silverware fairly early on in his United career.

But Moyes has a big opportunity to take the Red Devils to Wembley in the Capital One Cup Final and, if he can mastermind a comeback from their 2-1 Semi-Final 1st leg defeat to Sunderland, he will face Manchester City in the Final.

City’s 9-0 aggregate drubbing of West Ham over both legs of the Semi-Finals means they will expect to be there in February, waiting on whoever comes out on top at Old Trafford.

It is the Blue side of Manchester that will expect to be lifting the trophy, however, particularly when considering the fortunes of both sides so far this season.

But, should United come out on top against Sunderland and again in the Final, Moyes will have lifted a great weight off his shoulders and will, no doubt, win back a large chunk of the United faithful who may have lost belief in his ability to deliver.

And with United seemingly out of the Premier League title race and the FA Cup already, the Capital One Cup may well be Moyes’ only chance of silverware in his first season at Old Trafford.

City’s dream of a quadruple is still very much alive and they’re looking very good to at least add two pieces of silverware by the end of the season, which will be a good return for Pellegrini in his debut season.

City fans are only just getting used to being one of Europe’s super powers and are not yet taking their success for granted, which will ease the pressure on their gaffer as he attempts to ‘win ‘em all’ at the Etihad Stadium.

United fans are used to winning, though. It’s what they’ve grown up with. It’s in their blood. So a failure to secure the Capital One Cup this season could be a disaster for David Moyes and his Old Trafford reign.

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