Man City 1 Man United 0
Published: Today at 00:18
ROBERTO MANCINI claimed Manchester United’s negative tactics cost them.
Alex Ferguson packed his midfield to frustrate City — but it was the Blue half of Manchester celebrating.
Vincent Kompany scored the winner in first-half injury time — and United did not have a shot on target.
It leaves City top of the Premier League on goal difference with two games to play.
The title is now City’s to lose.
Boss Mancini said: “The key was that we wanted to win and they wanted a draw.
“This is the difference. We deserved to win but it was difficult as they had so many behind the ball.
“Every manager can choose his team and for them it was important to play for a draw.
“With a draw, they knew the championship was finished.
“It was an important result. Now we have it in our hands.
“But I’m not happy just for me, I’m happy for our fans.
“It is important we are top now but it is more important to be top on May 13.”
Dream Kompany admits scoring the winner in the derby is a little boy’s dream come true.
He said: “We wanted it so bad, everyone in the team.
“So much has been said about us but it’s about football and the dreams we had as children.
“A lot of predictions go wrong but someone texted me and said I would score the goal — I thought he was a lunatic.”
It was the first time in three years in the league that United failed to have a shot on target.
Boss Ferguson said: “I think David De Gea’s was the only save from both keepers.
“We are disappointed we never tested their goalkeeper, to be honest.
“Our crossing was poor. They were more of a threat, they had more action around the penalty box.”
Ferguson was also disappointed to have conceded from a set-piece.
He said: “If you lose a goal at a set-piece you have only yourself to blame at this level of football.
“They are in the driving seat now, they only have to win two games of football.
“You can always look back at any season and say that was bad or that was bad.
“We looked at last weekend and that was the worst, the Everton game.” Mancini is still trying to claim United are favourites. He is undoubtedly trying to goad performances out of United’s next two opponents, Swansea and Sunderland.
City by contrast have to go to Champions League-chasing Newcastle and host QPR.
Mancini said: “United, they have easier games. They play against Swansea and Sunderland. For United it’ll be easy.”
Kompany also revealed that City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak came into the dressing room before the crunch match.
The defender said: “He had a word with us. He said no matter the result he was proud us.
“We’ve done incredibly this season and we are building for the future.”
The title looked like it was City’s at one point, bets were then being paid out on United as they went eight points clear.
But Mancini said: “Football is crazy — but it is important to believe in yourself when you have a bad moment.
“It is not finished and if we think it is, it will be a big mistake from us.”
There was an incredible atmosphere in the Etihad as City continued their remarkable fightback from the eight-point gap to United three weeks ago.
Goalkeeper Joe Hart said: “You could feel the intensity, everyone in the stadium could.
“There has been a lot of build-up for weeks outside the team, we concentrated on what we wanted to do.
Focus “We’ve not been great sometimes but we are on a good run at the moment and played a very good side there and beat them.
“It’s a great to win but Newcastle is now our focus.
“They are pumping themselves up in the league and St James’ Park is going to be tough.
“We are looking forward to taking a good crowd there and getting one game closer.”
ob’s Fergie swipe
Man City 1 Man United 0
Published: Today at 00:18
ROBERTO MANCINI claimed Manchester United’s negative tactics cost them.
Alex Ferguson packed his midfield to frustrate City — but it was the Blue half of Manchester celebrating.
Vincent Kompany scored the winner in first-half injury time — and United did not have a shot on target.
It leaves City top of the Premier League on goal difference with two games to play.
The title is now City’s to lose.
Boss Mancini said: “The key was that we wanted to win and they wanted a draw.
“This is the difference. We deserved to win but it was difficult as they had so many behind the ball.
“Every manager can choose his team and for them it was important to play for a draw.
“With a draw, they knew the championship was finished.
“It was an important result. Now we have it in our hands.
“But I’m not happy just for me, I’m happy for our fans.
“It is important we are top now but it is more important to be top on May 13.”
Dream Kompany admits scoring the winner in the derby is a little boy’s dream come true.
He said: “We wanted it so bad, everyone in the team.
“So much has been said about us but it’s about football and the dreams we had as children.
“A lot of predictions go wrong but someone texted me and said I would score the goal — I thought he was a lunatic.”
It was the first time in three years in the league that United failed to have a shot on target.
Boss Ferguson said: “I think David De Gea’s was the only save from both keepers.
“We are disappointed we never tested their goalkeeper, to be honest.
“Our crossing was poor. They were more of a threat, they had more action around the penalty box.”
Ferguson was also disappointed to have conceded from a set-piece.
He said: “If you lose a goal at a set-piece you have only yourself to blame at this level of football.
“They are in the driving seat now, they only have to win two games of football.
“You can always look back at any season and say that was bad or that was bad.
“We looked at last weekend and that was the worst, the Everton game.” Mancini is still trying to claim United are favourites. He is undoubtedly trying to goad performances out of United’s next two opponents, Swansea and Sunderland.
City by contrast have to go to Champions League-chasing Newcastle and host QPR.
Mancini said: “United, they have easier games. They play against Swansea and Sunderland. For United it’ll be easy.”
Kompany also revealed that City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak came into the dressing room before the crunch match.
The defender said: “He had a word with us. He said no matter the result he was proud us.
“We’ve done incredibly this season and we are building for the future.”
The title looked like it was City’s at one point, bets were then being paid out on United as they went eight points clear.
But Mancini said: “Football is crazy — but it is important to believe in yourself when you have a bad moment.
“It is not finished and if we think it is, it will be a big mistake from us.”
There was an incredible atmosphere in the Etihad as City continued their remarkable fightback from the eight-point gap to United three weeks ago.
Goalkeeper Joe Hart said: “You could feel the intensity, everyone in the stadium could.
“There has been a lot of build-up for weeks outside the team, we concentrated on what we wanted to do.
Focus “We’ve not been great sometimes but we are on a good run at the moment and played a very good side there and beat them.
“It’s a great to win but Newcastle is now our focus.
“They are pumping themselves up in the league and St James’ Park is going to be tough.
“We are looking forward to taking a good crowd there and getting one game closer.”
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