MANCHESTER, England: Sir Alex Ferguson prepared for the most pivotal week of the Premier League season with a cheeky swipe at rivals Manchester City ahead of today’s eagerly-awaited derby.On a weekend when Ferguson’s Manchester United face City at Eastlands, league leaders Chelsea visit White Hart Lane with Tottenham aiming to overtake City for the fourth and final Champions League place.
It offers an intriguing weekend in the chase for first and fourth places and Ferguson was quick to point out that, for the first time in his nearly quarter of a century in Manchester, his club’s long-suffering local rivals are actually competing for more than pride in a derby game.
“Whoever pulled this fixture list out of the hat couldn’t have planned this any better,” Ferguson said. “I think it is the most pivotal week of the season for Chelsea, ourselves, Tottenham, City.
“The scenarios are fantastic. Obviously, we hope we win and Tottenham win but, just looking at Tottenham and City, the rewards of reaching the Champions League, for two clubs who have never been there, are fantastic.
“City have a chance of being in the Champions League because their form the last few weeks has been excellent; they scored six against Burnley, five against Birmingham whose defensive record had been fantastic. City are in goal-scoring form now.
“That puts a definite emphasis on the derby game. In my years at Manchester United this is the first time we have played City when they have had a chance to achieve something. A lot of neutrals will say that is fantastic for City and makes the game more appealing than ever.
“It doesn’t change our priorities. It does for City, in the sense of where they have been for the last 23 years.
“That’s what makes it interesting, they have got a chance of being fourth and they’ve also got a chance of beating United.
“That’s the great thing about derby games; in my 23 years, every time we have played City, they have always said they would beat us!
“That’s what derby games do, they create a fantastic enthusiasm and supporters want to hear that.
“It’s a different derby game because both teams can achieve something out of it – and both can lose out of it as well.”
Ferguson will wait until game day to decide whether England forward Wayne Rooney will play as he attempts to recover from the effects of his ankle injury.
Rooney has been shortlisted for both the Player and Young Player of the Year awards in the PFA nominations, announced this week, while City forward Carlos Tevez is one of the players competing with him for the former award.
Tevez has enjoyed an extraordinary debut season at Eastlands since his move from United, although Ferguson insists he has no regrets about allowing the Argentinian to leave, despite his 28-goal season.
“No regrets whatsoever,” Ferguson said. “We tried to buy him, we didn’t match the money they wanted, the boy moved on.
“There is no bitterness from me, players leave here from time to time, some do well, some don’t. We just have to move on.” — AFP