Video nasty is all incentive United need - McIlroy

Derby-day legend Sammy McIlroy does not believe Sir Alex Ferguson will be required to make much of a team-talk ahead of tomorrow’s Old Trafford extravaganza – a video nasty will be enough.

The current Northern Ireland boss turned out for both Manchester clubs during an illustrious playing career, which began with a goalscoring debut for United against City back in 1971.

And irrespective of the need for league points, he knows exactly what Ferguson will demand of his team in the wake of their 3-1 Maine Road mauling earlier in the season.

“I don’t expect Sir Alex will have to say too much on Sunday,” said McIlroy.

“A five-minute video of the last game should provide all the motivation his team needs.

“It was an amazing match really because City had just lost to Wigan and were missing two of their first choice defenders. People thought United only had to turn up.

“City thoroughly deserved to win but in hindsight it was precisely the kick up the backside United needed to get them going.”

Despite spending a couple of seasons at Maine Road late in his career, McIlroy is still a Mancunian red, having made almost 400 appearances for the Old Trafford outfit after that sensational debut as a 17-year-old.

Overall, he appeared in 17 derby matches, experiencing every agony and ecstasy that has been felt on the terraces over the years.

Indeed, while excited by the prospect of the white-hot atmosphere which will greet the teams tomorrow, McIlroy’s one regret is that the number of foreign players now established in the domestic game has diluted the meaning of such eagerly-awaited encounters.

“If you look at the City side which won in November, there was barely an English player on the team sheet,” he said.

“The players coming from abroad cannot possibly understand what the derby means to the people of Manchester. It’s the passion and pride of the supporters which is at stake. Whoever loses will have to go into work on Monday morning and take all the flak.

“I lived in and around the city for a long time and you know exactly how much the fans are suffering when they lose.

“I’m not saying the foreign players don’t try and the games are still great occasions, it just loses something.”

The fans may not agree with those sentiments and there was no sign the City faithful felt any less of their non-English team after their 3-1 win this term.

Street vendors were doing a brisk trade selling T-shirts to commemorate the triumph before last weekend’s defeat by West Brom and the visiting support are bound to offer more than a few gentle reminders of their victory come kick-off time.

However, having won 18 of their 22 matches since that defeat, McIlroy accepts United have earned their status as overwhelming favourites for the game.

“They are on a fantastic run at the moment and if Kevin Keegan spends too much time thinking about how to stop them, he won’t sleep,” he said.

“Ruud van Nistelrooy and Paul Scholes are scoring goals almost at will, Ryan Giggs and David Beckham are on good form and Roy Keane is getting back to his magnificent best.

“The extra incentive for United is knowing they cannot afford to drop any points otherwise Arsenal will start pulling away from them again.

“It’s a hell of a long time since City beat United twice in a season and it would be an unbelievable achievement to do it this year.

“But nothing can be taken for granted in a derby game and the result of the last match will remind City what can happen if they mix 100% commitment with some outstanding individual performances.”

And McIlroy believes it could be one of his own international players, unsung midfielder Kevin Horlock, who holds the key to a surprise away win.

“City have the likes of Ali Benarbia and Eyal Berkovic to create things and Nicolas Anelka and Robbie Fowler to finish them off, but none of it would work without Kevin,” he said.

“He is the one who breaks down the opposition and passes it on. It’s all right having flair players but you need people doing the less glamorous jobs as well and I don’t suppose many supporters realise what a good job Kevin does.”