Mancini has shown steel, says Fergie
Ahead of tomorrow’s eagerly-awaited Manchester derby at Old Trafford, Ferguson made it quite clear he was not talking specifically about Carlos Tevez, and pointedly refused to answer whether, in light of the South American star’s recent conduct, if he had been proved correct in letting him leave United in 2009.
However, in trying to mould together a squad capable of challenging for the title from a group of players, some demanding, then having to guide City through choppy waters created by the departure of chief executive Garry Cook, Ferguson believes Mancini has done an outstanding job, for which he is not being given due credit.
“Roberto has done fantastically well,” said Ferguson.
“He has shown his mettle dealing with a lot of situations in recent times.
“Forget Carlos Tevez played for us. It has nothing to do with Carlos Tevez; it is about the decision-making of a manager and his handling of situations.
“I find it quite amazing that he has not had enough praise for that. In fact I have seen very little praise for him on the subject.
“It all centred around what they were going to do. But he acted. He did his job. I think he has done it well.”
It was a rather surprising method of assessing such a significant rival ahead of such a massive game.
However, it is born of the knowledge how hard managing a top club is these days, when players often lack maturity purely because they never have to do anything for themselves.
“Management today is complex in terms of the type of player we have to deal with,” said Ferguson.
“A lot of players today are dominated by their agent.
“You get agents who buy their groceries, do their travel, polish their boots. That is the kind of human being you are having to deal with. Some dominate their lives. That situation for a manager is not easy.”
After repelling Liverpool, Blackburn, Arsenal and Chelsea at various points of his United regime, City provide another challenge for Ferguson to meet.
The Scot is relishing the prospect, caring little for how the blue half of a divided city have come to find themselves in such an exalted position.
“We all reach points where we say ‘this is a different life now’, whether it is a job or winning the lottery,” he said.
“Look at that couple who won £101m on the Euro lottery. That was a turning point in their life. It happens.”
Nevertheless, the largesse of Sheikh Mansour has allowed Mancini to sign a succession of players that even leave the big spending that characterised Roman Abramovich’s early years at Chelsea in the shade.
It took Ferguson two years to respond to Jose Mourinho, which came courtesy of Cristiano Ronaldo.
And whilst United have won four of the last five Premier League titles, Ferguson has never regarded the Londoners as defeated — and he does not now, knowing a draw at Old Trafford would allow Chelsea to leapfrog above his own side and within one point of City at the top.
“We never expect anybody to go away,” said Ferguson.
“But the important thing is that we don’t go away.
“It doesn’t matter where the challenges come from in this league, you know every year you are going to have to beat someone.
“This year it may be City but I think people are a wee bit premature in writing off Chelsea.
“They have got the most experience in terms of players. Their squad is full of top experience. You cannot discount them.
“We hope we finish above the both of them. That is the name of the game for us.”
Ferguson is banking on United’s form in the second half of the season to act as a safety net if tomorrow’s derby against Manchester City goes against them.
The Red Devils find themselves in the strange position of being behind their local rivals heading into the first all-Manchester showdown of the Premier League season.
And Ferguson is acutely aware that if the unbeaten Blues manage to register only their second Old Trafford success in 37 years, it will put them five points clear of United.
However, whilst Ferguson is not actively embracing thoughts of defeat, he does know from past experience how his squad comes good over the final few months of the season, when the battle for honours on all fronts is intensifying.
“This game could be significant at the end of the season,” said the United boss.
“It is a six-pointer. It will make a difference to whichever team wins it.
“But it is early doors and you can recover. There is no doubt about that.
“With our record in the second half of the season, you hope that we will be better.”
City are the latest rival for a team who has been at the top of the league for two decades.
In their various guises, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea have all been disposed of. Now Ferguson has to deal with City.
It is a battle he is relishing.
“We always accept a challenge at this club,” he said.
“We have had that time and time again. This is another situation.
“It is another game in the history of our club and we have to do something about it.
“You don’t always want to be behind clubs, like we were for a couple of years with Chelsea.
“But we showed we had the vigour and determination, and also the decision-making that got us back in front of that particular football club.”
Given their respective records this term, a memorable tussle is in prospect.
However, although the last few years have brought a seven-goal thriller, settled by Michael Owen in stoppage time, Wayne Rooney’s last-gasp goal to seal a Carling Cup semi-final triumph and Yaya Toure’s FA Cup semi-final matchwinner, in addition to Rooney’s spectacular overhead kick in the corresponding fixture last term, Ferguson is not certain another sensational contest is on the horizon.
“There could be goals — but it could also be disappointing,” accepted Ferguson.
“It is a major game. It is very seldom in major games that you get a lot of goals.”
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