Manchester derby about more than bragging rights this time

Today sees the battle of Manchester that we have all been waiting for. The champions and undisputed kings of the area take on the new improved version of City that look as though they may be a genuine threat to United’s throne.

The war of words has been good to listen to. Fergie has spent a lot more time talking about his neighbours than he usually bothers to do. That must mean that he regards them as a threat this time around. He has accused City of being arrogant and cocky and he has made comments about them being a lot weaker without Emmanuel Adebayor who he said was City’s best player ‘by a mile’.

Challenge

Mark Hughes hasn’t backed away from the challenge and he has suggested that United are considerably weaker this season than they were last time around. He says United have failed to replace Tevez and Ronaldo.

Some people believe that City are marginal favourites to win today’s game. They are above United in the table and have a 100% record whereas United haven’t always looked at their best so far. It was suggested to Sir Alex Ferguson that United might be going into the Manchester derby as underdogs. Fergie replied in typical fashion.

“Not in my lifetime.”

Mark Hughes is loving the fact that United and his old boss Fergie are having to take him and his City team seriously,

“We just take it as a bit of flattery. In recent years City haven’t really affected the thinking of United, possibly that’s changed now.”

Fergie continued to try to wind-up his opponents by suggesting that the game is not really significant to him or anyone at United,

“To me, Liverpool has always been the derby. It is because of the history. My aim was always to do well against them. It is hard for me to think any other way.”

It is great stuff. Fergie at his best battling it out with a young pretender who would have learned much of his management from the United boss. Of course, what the two managers say to and about each other before the game is of little significance but it just adds to the atmosphere and excitement in the build up to the game.

Important

Don’t forget that City won at United last season when they somewhat dampened the occasion around the anniversary of the Munich plane crash. If they win again this season it would be an awful lot more important however as it would send a message that the big four might just be about to become the big five.

It will be a close game I am sure. United were exceptional at Tottenham last week but have been pretty average every other time I have seen them. City have looked good but they are without their goal machine Emmanuel Adebayor and that will make a big difference to them.

At the risk of being accused of ‘sitting on the fence’ the more I think about it the more I think this might just be a draw. If it is, neither manager will be too disappointed with that.