With Manchester United set to host Manchester City in tonight’s derby, Sir Alex Ferguson will be looking for a chance at redemption after suffering a humiliating defeat in the same fixture last season.
A lead of 15 points atop of the Premier League table, with just seven games left to play for after tonight’s derby game against Manchester City, Sir Alex Ferguson and his men know of their impending 20th league title.
Tonight’s game may not have a great significance on the title race but with memories of last year’s annihilation at the hands of their city rivals still fresh in the minds of United fans, Manchester United would be out for vengeance.
The last time these two sides met in a Barclays Premier League encounter at Old Trafford, was back in October 2011 when Sir Alex Ferguson’s side were on the receiving end of one of the most humiliating defeats in the club’s rich and proud history.
United were drubbed 6-1 in that game by their bitter rivals in a scoreline that will forever haunt those who watched it and will always remain in the folklore of the rivalry between these two sides. It was a 46th minute red card to Jonny Evans that set the tone for the forgettable whipping but things have changed drastically since then.
Demolishing a footballing giant as big as Manchester United is no mean feat. However, it seems quite clear that Roberto Mancini’s side failed to build over that success. Though they won the title for the first time in decades, it was not just City’s efforts that won it. Had United not surrendered a decent lead on top of the table that season, writers, analysts, managers and players alike would have been talking about something entirely different.
Despite spending so much on new players since his arrival, Mancini has not been able to completely cure his side’s proneness to inconsistency. The Citizens, despite playing a soothing-to-the-eye brand of football, were not able to put the consistency into their game that is a hallmark of all great teams.
United on the other hand, learnt from their mistakes. Fully aware and livid at the fact that they lost the title on goal difference last season, Sir Alex Ferguson brought in a proven goal-scorer in Robin van Persie at the club.
The arrival of the Dutchman was slightly against the club’s transfer policy (considering his age) but it was a move designed to make sure that goal difference does not play any role in the club’s failure to win a title. And indeed, this transfer was yet another stroke of genius from the wily old Scott who surely was knighted for a reason.
Coming back to tonight’s game, it would be extremely foolish to think of a 6-1 win for either side.
Manchester United have won all of their last five Premier League encounters while Manchester City have won four of their last five league games (the first of which was a 3-1 defeat away against Southampton).
In last weekend’s games, United beat Sunderland 1-0 while City outclassed Newcastle United 4-0 at home. The Citizens gave a good account of their talents during the drubbing which clearly means that they will not be sitting ducks at Old Trafford tonight.
The 6-1 hammering would still be fresh in the minds of the Red Devils players but with the Premier League title just around the corner, United should be more focused on winning the game against their rivals first before thinking about retribution.
A win over City will mean a lot to the United fans and players but for Ferguson, lifting the title he lost on the last day of last season would be the sort of revenge he would be thinking about.
Tonight’s game may not have a great significance on the title race but with memories of last year’s annihilation at the hands of their city rivals still fresh in the minds of United fans, Manchester United would be out for vengeance.
The last time these two sides met in a Barclays Premier League encounter at Old Trafford, was back in October 2011 when Sir Alex Ferguson’s side were on the receiving end of one of the most humiliating defeats in the club’s rich and proud history.
United were drubbed 6-1 in that game by their bitter rivals in a scoreline that will forever haunt those who watched it and will always remain in the folklore of the rivalry between these two sides. It was a 46th minute red card to Jonny Evans that set the tone for the forgettable whipping but things have changed drastically since then.
Demolishing a footballing giant as big as Manchester United is no mean feat. However, it seems quite clear that Roberto Mancini’s side failed to build over that success. Though they won the title for the first time in decades, it was not just City’s efforts that won it. Had United not surrendered a decent lead on top of the table that season, writers, analysts, managers and players alike would have been talking about something entirely different.
Despite spending so much on new players since his arrival, Mancini has not been able to completely cure his side’s proneness to inconsistency. The Citizens, despite playing a soothing-to-the-eye brand of football, were not able to put the consistency into their game that is a hallmark of all great teams.
United on the other hand, learnt from their mistakes. Fully aware and livid at the fact that they lost the title on goal difference last season, Sir Alex Ferguson brought in a proven goal-scorer in Robin van Persie at the club.
The arrival of the Dutchman was slightly against the club’s transfer policy (considering his age) but it was a move designed to make sure that goal difference does not play any role in the club’s failure to win a title. And indeed, this transfer was yet another stroke of genius from the wily old Scott who surely was knighted for a reason.
Coming back to tonight’s game, it would be extremely foolish to think of a 6-1 win for either side.
Manchester United have won all of their last five Premier League encounters while Manchester City have won four of their last five league games (the first of which was a 3-1 defeat away against Southampton).
In last weekend’s games, United beat Sunderland 1-0 while City outclassed Newcastle United 4-0 at home. The Citizens gave a good account of their talents during the drubbing which clearly means that they will not be sitting ducks at Old Trafford tonight.
The 6-1 hammering would still be fresh in the minds of the Red Devils players but with the Premier League title just around the corner, United should be more focused on winning the game against their rivals first before thinking about retribution.
A win over City will mean a lot to the United fans and players but for Ferguson, lifting the title he lost on the last day of last season would be the sort of revenge he would be thinking about.
