Robbo expects summer overhaul from Fergie

Bryan Robson believes Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson will view winning the Barclays Premier League this season as one of his greatest triumphs given the resources available at Manchester City.

But former United captain Robson expects Ferguson to overhaul his squad this summer, whatever the outcome of the title race.

United will hold only a three-point lead going into next Monday’s derby at the Etihad Stadium after losing at Wigan and being held to a 4-4 draw by Everton at the weekend.

Robson said: “If United pip City for the title, Sir Alex will take extra pleasure because it is at the expense of the local rivals.

“They’ve got a great squad while Sir Alex has brought a few kids through and had a lot of injuries to contend with this season.”

He said: “City can afford to bring in top players but the one thing Sir Alex will do, whether he wins the title or not, is to build in the summer.

“He will do that to try and compete and get back above, or to stay in front of Man City.

Robson believes the key to the derby clash could be how City handle the kind of pressure United have been accustomed to at this stage of a season for many campaigns.

He said: “It will be a new experience for City and depends on how they adapt to it.

“It might be them saying ’let’s get out there, enjoy this and, if we do it, we do it, and if we don’t no one is really going to criticise us because United have been there, seen it and done it’.

“The players could get that response or do they go the other way and get nervous because they know how much is on this game?”