With United 15 points clear of second-placed City, Mancini has been forced to concede his side’s reign as champions is all but over. PHOTO: AFP
MANCHESTER: Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini insists his team will use today’s derby to show they are still Manchester United’s equals even though the Premier League title is destined for Old Trafford.
With United 15 points clear of second-placed City, Mancini has been forced to concede his side’s reign as champions is all but over. Yet there is still plenty to play for at Old Trafford, with United looking to move closer to confirming their title triumph and City desperate to inflict a bloody nose on their bitter rivals.
City supporters will never let United fans forget their 6-1 win at Old Trafford last season and another victory on enemy territory would at least partially ease the pain of surrendering the title and prove they can hold their own against the champions-elect.
“To win 6-1 is impossible,” said Mancini. “This can happen every 100 years. But we don’t deserve to stay 15 points behind United. They play well, they win a lot of games, so they deserve to stay on the top.
“But it is not a true table. Now we have eight games left. If we play well, we win a lot of these games, maybe we can reduce this gap. This should be our target.
“I don’t know at this moment what my approach will be. To play there is difficult but there is not a big difference between us and them.”
Published in The Express Tribune, April 8th, 2013.
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