Preview: City v United …
Rarely can a football week have offered the chance for supreme redemption after utter dejection.
Even as United trooped home from their Milanese debacle, they knew that within days they would have the chance to all but wrap up the club’s first title in four years and against City to boot!
United need to win to put maximum pressure on Chelsea, who play Arsenal tomorrow. If the reigning champions fail to beat the Gunners, United’s goal difference and their points advantage should be enough to make the midweek trip to Stamford Bridge a coronation.
United may be aggrieved to have lost the chance of another Treble but ‘Derby Day’ gives little room for self pity. Winger Ryan Giggs, would have it no other way.
“We have to remember we still have so much to go for this season,” he said. “Yes, we are greedy, we wanted to win everything this season. Now we are out of the Champions League, we have to try and win the double.
“We now have to finish the season on a high and do well in the league and the FA Cup.”
Sir Alex too, has recovered from the disappointment and is training all his guns on domestic glory.
“It’s only five points,” he growled, in reference to United’s current Premiership lead. “If we were to lose two games and Chelsea were to win their last three, they win the league.”
“The only way for us to approach this weekend is to win against Manchester City and not to rely on anyone else for help. To rely on another football club is the wrong attitude. The name of the game is for us to win our game and then it doesn’t matter what happens elsewhere. We can only think that way.”
City’s unpredictability justifies the manager’s caution. At first glance, Blue Manchester is set for heartache this afternoon. Barton, one of the two decent players in a ramshackle outfit, should never play for the club again, after beating up team-mate Ousmane Dabo in training. City’s goals record at home is feeble and boss Stuart Pearce has a resumé which serves to confirm the theory that good English internationals rarely make great managers.
Yet United cannot take victory for granted. City have a good recent record against United, are safe from relegation and are playing for pride and prize money. Moreover, with Pearce rumoured to be a certainty for the summer dole queue, the players have every reason to perform. City could be as awkward as Middlesbrough proved last month.
With Chelsea in mind, Sir Alex is likely to make changes to his side. Ferdinand, Smith, Evra and Richardson might start.
City have to score if they are not to be remembered for the dismal record of registering the fewest number of goals at home in Premiership history. United’s slap dash defence will probably save them such humiliation. But with the title in sight, United are more than likely to banish the ‘M’ feeling and finish the week on a high.
