Ole: United title challenge ‘won’t happen overnight’

Ole Gunnar Solksjaer may well experience first-hand tonight the gulf in class that currently exists between his Manchester United side and their treble-chasing neighbours but, regardless of the result, the club’s new manager is already searingly honest in his appraisal of their standing in the English game.

United, fresh from that 4-0 embarrassment at Everton on Sunday, take on City at Old Trafford in a derby in which defeat would leave his side 25 points behind Pep Guardiola’s and 24 adrift of City’s closest title rivals Liverpool.