Mancini plays down importance of derby against ‘title favourites’

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini claims there have been no nerves in the build-up to tonight’s crunch derby against Manchester United.

The two heavyweight title rivals meet at the Etihad Stadium in one of the biggest and most eagerly-anticipated matches in Premier League history.

With City trailing league leaders United by just three points going into the game, the stakes are high, but Mancini has continually played down his side’s chances.

Even though victory would take City back to the top of the table, Mancini insists United would remain title favourites and because of that, he says the pressure is yet to show.

The Italian said: “It is impossible to be worried for Monday yet. It is football, not work.

“Maybe Monday morning there will be pressure, but this is normal for us or for United. But not now, I don’t think this.”

Mancini first wrote off his side’s title prospects after a damaging defeat at Arsenal three weeks ago left them trailing by eight points.

He has maintained that stance since, despite seeing his side cut the gap with successive wins over West Brom, Norwich and Wolves, while United have faltered against Wigan and Everton.

With a testing trip to Newcastle and a home clash with struggling QPR still to come, Mancini says his side have the harder run-in as United play Swansea and Sunderland.

Mancini said: “Now we have this small chance but I think it is important that after Arsenal we just continue to play football.

“They have one difficult game against us, then they have two easy games. They will probably get six points.”

Ryan Giggs, meanwhile, has admitted games like tonight’s are the reason he is still operating at the highest level.

Should he play some part for Manchester United, it will be Giggs’ 908th appearance for the Red Devils, an incredible 36 of which would have been against City.

“These are the sort games which I am still involved in football for,” he said. “They are big, title-deciding games.

“Apart from cup finals this is as big as you can get.”

Giggs knows the price of failure would be concession of United’s place at the top of the Premier League. Conversely, victory, or even a draw, would almost guarantee a record 20th league title.

“We’re Manchester United, we’re the champions and we’ll try and put out a statement that we deserve to win this league,” said Giggs.