Platt: City only going to get better
City may have conceded defeat to United in their Premier League title defence but their hard-earned 2-1 win in the derby at Old Trafford not only restored pride but made a psychological point.
The aim now for City is to secure second place and regroup sufficiently over the summer to launch a stronger challenge next season.
With the FA Cup still to play for this term, City clearly remain in good shape and Platt feels they will be even better next time around.
“The potential is being realised,” Platt said. “It is a very good team, it is a very good football club. It is not going away.
“That is the main message, not just to come out of last night but forever.
“Regardless of what happens in the league this season, we aren’t going away. We will be there next year and long may that continue. We will keep getting stronger and stronger.”
The manner of City’s performance in securing back-to-back wins at Old Trafford for the first time since 1972 prompted many to wonder how they had allowed United to go into the game 15 points clear.
City claimed the lead early in the second half with a deflected strike from the impressive James Milner.
United produced a quick response as Phil Jones forced an equaliser off Vincent Kompany from a wicked Robin van Persie free-kick but Sergio Aguero settled the contest with a sublime individual strike.
Platt said: “More than a fantastic result it was a terrific performance.
“We were composed throughout, which was a good thing.”
Platt accepts the result will probably only delay United’s crowning as champions but he felt it was important to have given the supporters bragging rights for the time being.
He said: “It is not mathematically impossible but I think there are insufficient games.
“It’s 12 points and when they wake up in the cold light of day, it’s still a massive mountain to climb.
“I don’t think Manchester United will fail to get over the line but at least they [City fans] have got the pride.”
City playmaker David Silva suffered a hamstring injury in the closing stages of Monday’s game but remains hopeful of being fit to face Chelsea in Sunday’s FA Cup final at Wembley.
“I felt it at the end and I’m still feeling it now. We will have to wait until tomorrow and see what the tests show. Hopefully I will be able to recover for Sunday,” he said.
For his part, United left-back Patrice Evra has urged his team-mates to prove they are England’s finest at Stoke on Sunday.
Evra is acutely aware City’s 2-1 win will provide further ammunition to those who claim United are not as good as their apparently impregnable position in the table would suggest.
But Evra knows the doubters can be silenced by a return to the form that earned United such a big lead in the first place.
“I hear a lot of people talking about us, saying we didn’t deserve the 15 point lead,” said Evra. “But if we are here it is because we are working hard and we deserve to win this title.
“We have to make sure we win at Stoke on Sunday and show we are the best team in England.”
Not that Evra is expecting an easy game against a Stoke side who have slithered to the edge of the relegation precipice and still need to pick up points to ensure they stay out of trouble.
“The most important thing is to win the title,” said Evra. “We are in a great position but we don’t want to put pressure on ourselves.
“Nothing is going to be easy until the end of the season.
“Stoke is always a difficult place to go. We have to be ready for the fight.”
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