Guardiola 1 Mourinho 1: Who will blink first? Man United drumbeat echoes for faltering Guardiola

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho, left, and Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola embrace after the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford, Manchester, England, Saturday, Sept. 10, 2016. Manchester City won the game 1-2. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has an opportunity to score a seismic victory over his old foe Pep Guardiola when his side visit misfiring Manchester City tonight.

Guardiola oversaw a one-sided 2-1 win when he and Mourinho resumed hostilities in September - each at the helm of a new club - and was generally felt to have made a bigger impact than the Portuguese in the season’s early months.

But having been condemned to a trophy-free first season at City by Sunday’s FA Cup semifinal loss to Arsenal, Guardiola will lose his hold on a top-four place if United prevail at the Etihad Stadium.

“It is going to be the game of the season,” predicted United’s Spanish midfielder Ander Herrera.

“We are one point behind them. If we win, we have the chance to finish in the top four. If they win, it is going to be very difficult.

“So if one of us wins the game, we are not going to lose a lot of games or make mistakes after that. Us or them. It is going to be key.”

Mourinho, Guardiola’s pain during their time in Spain, has played down Herrera’s remarks, saying: “He says that because I always say that about the next match.”

But the United manager will know that victory would give United the edge over City in the quest for Champions League qualification.

United have struggled for fluency this season, drawing no fewer than 12 games, and spent four months grimly locked in sixth place in the table.

As the days grow longer, however, the prospects of a successful end to the season appear to be getting brighter.

United have already won the League Cup, face Celta Vigo in the semifinals of the Europa League and showed in their stunning 2-0 ambush of league leaders Chelsea that they are a match for anyone.