Published: Today at 15:08
ALEX FERGUSON reckons you would need to be a masochist to enjoy the Manchester derby title decider.
Fergie’s United side head to City on Monday with a three-point lead in a thrilling Premier League climax.
And the Old Trafford chief claims the derby crunch could prove too painful for some.
Ferguson said: “You would have to be a confirmed masochist to enjoy it.
“But we are looking forward to it and the players will be fully prepared for it.”
A win for Manchester City will see Roberto Mancini's men go top on goal difference.
And Fergie claims City have now overtaken Liverpool as United's main rivals.
He said: “We have to get used to playing Manchester City in important games.
“They are not going away. The support they have means we are going to be playing them in a lot of big games.
“If we are going to be contesting for league titles regularly - and I think we will be doing - it will become just as important as the Liverpool game.
“Maybe not in terms of emotion because the Liverpool-United games are emotional.
“But there is certainly an importance which, at this moment in time, supercedes the Liverpool games.
“They are our direct opponents now. Manchester City are up against us to win titles.
“That is what our focus is on, the team who can stop us winning.”
Fergie admitted Monday's fixture caught the eye at the start of the season.
He said: “It was inevitable I suppose. It is all down to this game.
“There will be a considerable number of countries watching it, so I hope it lives up to the billing.”
Ferguson insists Manchester City boss Mancini’s efforts to pile the pressure on United are pointless.
He added: “Maybe he is trying to take pressure off his own players. But it doesn’t matter. It is not going to affect our approach or attitude to the game.
“We know the exact situation we are in here. We are in a better position than Manchester City.
"We can get two results, they can only get one. They have to win. We can draw or we can win, which is what we will be trying to do.”
No comments:
Post a Comment