Nani: Lack of focus to blame

Nani has admitted a lack of concentration was to blame for pitching Manchester United into the most important derby clash of Alex Ferguson’s career at the Etihad Stadium next Monday.

Ten minutes from time at Old Trafford on Sunday most United fans were dreaming of the elation at retaining their crown at the home of those troublesome “noisy neighbours”, which would have been the prize for beating Manchester City.

Now, barring improbably large victories in their final two games, Ferguson and his players know that, not only will they surrender top spot if they lose, there will be nothing they can do to alter the situation should City win their final two games.

And for that, United only have themselves to blame.

“There is anger from the players,” said Nani. “The concentration was not the best in the last few minutes – that’s why they were able to create chances and score goals. We had a lot of possession and played some fantastic football in attack. But we conceded too many goals and we’re not happy about that.”

For virtually the first time since he ruptured cruciate ligaments in December, United have cause to lament the absence of skipper Nemanja Vidic, knowing the Serbian was also missing when City inflicted that morale-sapping 6-1 defeat at Old Trafford in October. Vidic is not available, though, so Ferguson has to work with what he has.

Such was the poor performance of Rafael at right-back against Everton that a change is virtually certain. Yet Phil Jones has been equally loose in his defending recently and Chris Smalling would be a better bet if it were not for the fact he has not started a Premier League game since January.

There has to be a question mark over Ferguson electing to start with two wide players, as he did in that first traumatic Premier League derby of the season, especially as he cannot allow his team to run the risk of Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick being outmanoeuvred in central midfield by Yaya Toure.

Meanwhile Toure has urged Manchester City to seize the initiative and capitalise on being handed an unexpected lifeline by United.

Toure said: “United’s result was amazing. It was an unbelievable day for us with United dropping points at home. For me, it was strange. We found out about it on the bus on the way to Wolves. It was quite unbelievable and we now have to try and take advantage. We did the first part by beating Wolves but we have to settle down and continue to work hard because United still have three points more than us.”

Toure praised the City players for being able to take advantage of United’s slip-up by disposing of relegated Wolves. He said: “People say we looked nervous at stages of the game and we have a lot of young players and not so many experienced ones. “When your big rivals drop points at home, and you have to win your game, it is quite difficult.

“But with the players we have, it can make the difference all of the time with the likes of Aguero, Tevez and Nasri, and we did the job.”

City manager Roberto Mancini continues to play down his side’s chances despite United’s unexpected setbacks via defeat at Wigan and letting slip 3-1 and 4-2 leads against Everton.

But he is happy with the improvement in his side compared to last season.

Mancini said: “We have another chance but they have a bigger chance than us at this moment.

“After the derby, the games United have left are not as difficult as the ones we have to play.

* Andre Marriner has been appointed to referee the game .