Manchester: The outcome of Saturday's Manchester derby between United and City could play a big part in defining the immediate futures of the crosstown rivals.
Even United manager Alex Ferguson accepts the derby will be the most significant of his reign, which stretches back to 1986.
For City, a victory would strengthen the big-spending team's grip on fourth place and raise the prospects of Champions League football for the first time.
Winning at Eastlands would also effectively end United's hopes of a fourth straight league title unless Chelsea, which has a four-point lead, loses at Tottenham, which is one point behind City.
"It puts a definite emphasis on the derby that has not been there before," Ferguson said Friday. "In my 23 years here, we've not played City when they've had a chance of achieving something (in the league).
"A lot of neutrals will say it's fantastic for the city, and it makes the game more appealing than ever."
Since September 2008, City's wealthy Middle Eastern owner has embarked on a lavish spending spree, which stands in marked contrast to the frugal approach at United with its debts of $1.1 billion.
Ferguson had grown accustomed to City posing little threat until the Sheikh-Mansour-funded revolution ushered in a new era at the club.
But Ferguson now fears that City's qualification for Europe's elite club competition for the first time will only make it easier for them to lure the world's best talent.
"They have this amazing amount for buying players, they could go and buy another team," Ferguson said.
City manager Roberto Mancini also accepted that qualifying for the Champions League will "make it easier to get the players we want."
"It is important we finish in fourth because we can change the way we are going," Mancini said.
Hamburg defender Jerome Boateng has already been targeted by City.
"He is only young but he is a good player," Mancini said. "We have followed him, like we have followed a lot of players but I don't think we will decide what to do until after this season is over."
The most significant purchase of the last offseason was also the most divisive in Manchester with Carlo Tevez leaving Old Trafford for City.
The Argentina striker has 28 goals this season, while Dimitar Berbatov, who was ahead of Tevez in the United pecking order, has scored just 12 times.
Ferguson insists he doesn't regret that United didn't pay Tevez's management the amount required to sign him to a permanent deal.
"There is no bitterness from me," Ferguson said. "Players leave here from time to time. Some do well, others don't. We move on.
"Carlos had a good first season with us, I must admit. In the second he didn't feature in as many games. I cannot dispute that he is having a great goalscoring season."
Ferguson hopes Wayne Rooney, who has scored 34 goals this campaign, will be back Saturday. The England striker has been struggling with an ankle problem he aggravated in the second leg of the Champions League loss to Bayern Munich last week.
"He has done some work over the last couple of days and we will see how he is for tomorrow's game," Ferguson said.
Ryan Giggs (hamstring) and Rio Ferdinand (groin) will undergo late fitness tests before Ferguson decides whether they can play.
Owen Hargreaves could be included in the United squad after a 19-month absence during which he underwent surgery on both knees to treat persistent tendinitis.
Comments
0 comment