Knight and day: Fergie enjoying local differences ahead of Manchester derby
Knight and day: Fergie enjoying local differences ahead of Manchester derby
Sir Alex Ferguson has spotted that even City's title-winning
performance of last season wouldn't be enough THIS time 'cos United are
so much better!
Facing facts: Sir Alex Ferguson reckons the evidence is all there...
John Peters
Sir Alex Ferguson has taunted Manchester City by saying there was no way they could have kept pace in this season’s title race.
Speaking ahead of today's derby at Old Trafford,
Ferguson
claimed even City’s title-winning side of last season stood no chance of
lasting the distance with Manchester United, given how high they have
raised the bar this term.
United’s
response to City snatching the title on goal difference on the final day
of last season has been emphatic, Ferguson’s players reasserting
their domestic superiority with a ruthless conviction.
They
have set an English top-flight record by winning 25 of their 30 league
games and, with eight matches left, remain on course to beat Chelsea’s
record Premier League points haul of 95.
United are four points better off than they were at this stage last season, while City are eight points worse off. Proof,
the United boss claimed, of his side’s growth and how much Roberto Mancini’s side have regressed. “We’ve improved,” said Ferguson. “That’s been the difficulty for City.
“Even if their points tally was as good as it was this time last season, it wouldn’t have matched ours anyway.
“So you have to give us credit for that. 25 wins out of 30 shows the conviction of the players’ performance.
“The
way we lost the title last season resonated with a lot of people in the
club. The only thing you can do after that kind of thing is do better.
“That’s
what
the players did. They’ve been focused, their team spirit has been
terrific and there was a definite sense of purpose in terms of getting
the title back.
“The important thing is the ability to recover and they’ve shown that. The players have achieved a lot this season.
“Their approach to winning the next match has been very positive.” Fortress? Manchester United's stadium Old Trafford
Rex
Tonight
marks City’s first return to Old Trafford since their 6-1 mauling of
United there 18 months ago, a defeat Ferguson described as the worst of
his career and one he still cannot bear to watch.
Asked
if he had ever watched a re-run of the 6-1 defeat in October 2011,
Ferguson said: “No I’m not into self-flagellation. It happened, we threw
it away, committed suicide in the game. But it’ll be different this
time.”
Ferguson
hailed the development of a number of his squad, as well as the impact
of Robin van Persie in his first season, for United’s remarkable form.
“It’s
down
to the maturity of the players,” said Ferguson. “Rafael has shown
fantastic improvement, and Michael Carrick has developed into a mature
and intelligent footballer, which we always knew he could.
“He
didn’t have the consistency of Paul Scholes, but he has now, he’s been
fantastic. David de Gea has improved as the season has gone on and he’ll get even better.
“Our goals for record is much better and so is our goal difference.
“The improvement is not just through Robin, who has been fantastic – even when he doesn’t score he’s a fantastic footballer.
“Shinji Kagawa will be a far better player next season and I expect improvement from Danny Welbeck and Tom Cleverley.” Was NEVER going to City! Robin van Persie of Manchester United
Alex Livesey / Getty
Although
Van Persie has not scored in his last nine games for United, his
explosive early-season form and goals gave Ferguson’s side the platform
for their 20th league title success. And
while Mancini claimed City were close to signing Van Persie from Arsenal
last summer, Ferguson said: “He was never going to go to City, and he’s
been fantastic for us.
“I
don’t think there’s any tiredness in his general play. He’s been
affected by the striker’s disease – they don’t score for two games then
start worrying about it. But he’ll get goals.”
Having
all but regained their title, Ferguson warned City and the rest of the
Premier League he intends to maintain United’s status as English
football’s dominant force.
“We’re never going away,” said Ferguson. “The last 20 years tells you that and we’re not going away next season either.
“Next year there’ll be no problem, we are young enough to go again.
“We may have one or two issues with players being another year older – Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Rio Ferdinand.
“But we’ll compensate by the fact we have players maturing all the time.”
Fergie vs Mancini so far...
Jan 19, 2010: City 2 Utd 1 Carling Cup semi-final
Jan 27, 2010: Utd 3 City 1 Carling Cup semi
Apr 17, 2010: City 0 Utd 1 Premier League
Nov 10, 2010: City 0 Utd 0 Prem Lge
Feb 12, 2011: Utd 2 City 1 Prem Lge
Apr 16, 2011: City 1 Utd 0 FA Cup SF
Aug 7, 2011: Utd 3 City 2 Comm Sh
Oct 23, 2011: Utd 1 City 6 PL
Jan 8, 2012: City 2 Utd 3 FAC 3rd
Apr 30, 2012: City 1 Utd 0 PL
Dec 9, 2012: City 2 Utd 3 PL
Ferguson six wins, Mancini four, and one draw
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