Fergie: City are a title threat

ALEX FERGUSON claims Manchester City will keep on spending until they have won something and admits Roberto Mancini’s side are genuine title contenders.

Ferguson’s Manchester United side, the only unbeaten team in the top flight this season, face City at Eastlands tomorrow night with a three-point lead over their rivals.

The United manager said the fact both clubs are now challenging for the title will add extra spice to the contest.

Ferguson said: “We know the kind of money they’re spending – they’ve bought another five or six players in the summer and they’ll keep doing that until they win something.

“It does put an edge on (the game). I don’t believe there’s any question about that.

“They’re up there (challenging for the title), and you can’t wait until tomorrow when there’s something there today. I’m sure they’re thinking that way themselves.”

Like Ferguson, Paul Scholes is aware of City’s threat and the midfielder has revealed Manchester United’s desperation to prevent Roberto Mancini’s side ending their 34-year trophy drought.

Tensions surrounding the first derby clash of the campaign have been building for weeks now, with first City goading their neighbours because of their poor form before tables were turned over the past fortnight.

Amongst the supporters at least, the meetings between red and blue have taken on a different perspective thanks to Sheikh Mansour’s largesse.

Three injury-time victories for United last term merely contributed to the heightened passions in a match that has become far more than just a battle for three Premier League points.

In such a football-dominated city, bragging rights are of huge significance, with the clock that hangs from the Stretford End, depicting the number of years since the Blues last lifted any major silverware amongst the most visual aspects.

Before last season’s Carling Cup semi-final decider, there was a sense amongst the United faithful that the final itself was of minor significance compared to the demand of halting City’s charge to Wembley.

And, even in the Old Trafford dressing room, it seems the inevitability of not winning trophies brings with it a hope that certain others do not profit at United’s expense.

“We want to win trophies,” underlined Scholes.

“But we can’t win everything and while we don’t get the option of choosing who wins the other, there are some teams you would rather do it and others you would prefer not to.

“We are all desperate to stay above City. That goes for everyone.

“Even a 21-year-old newcomer to the club will feel the same way.

“We wouldn’t like City to win anything in much the same way as they wouldn’t want us to win anything else.”

Scholes proved to be the matchwinner the last time the two sides met in April, when he ghosted unchallenged into the City box to nod home an injury-time winner which ultimately did not prove decisive in the Premier League title race but did help stop Roberto Mancini’s men from finishing in a Champions League spot.

Yet the knowledge that City now have a prize to aim for in addition to the derby-day spoils themselves does not leave Scholes feeling the occasions have become more intense.

As a born and bred Mancunian, he has always felt that about them anyway.

“Every derby game I have been involved with has always been massive,” he said.

“The atmosphere is great, as I am sure it will be on Wednesday.

“Maybe City expect a bit more than they have done in the past and rightly so with the money they have spent and the players they have bought. That expectation has not always been there in the past.”

The return of United old-boy Carlos Tevez has already had an impact on City and for all his off-field woes, the South American will be giving his all to try to ensure bragging rights for his new club this week.

Scholes prefers not to enter the debate about controversial comments Tevez has made in the past about his time at United, preferring to stick with the safe option.

“The Tevez factor does not play any part,” he said.

“He was a top player for this club and decided to move elsewhere. That is the end of it.

“The fact is City are a top team. They spent a lot of money on quality players and had a great start to the season. Maybe they have come unstuck a little bit lately but form does go out of the window on occasions such as this. Anything can happen on derby night.”