Ferguson tells City: Beat us and title's yours
Reuters - Sunday 29 April 2012, 13:26
The destiny of the Premier
League title will be firmly in Manchester City's hands if they
beat leaders Manchester United at home on Monday, United manager
Sir Alex Ferguson has said.
United hold a three-point advantage going into the
highly-anticipated showdown but a win for City would put them
top on goal difference with two matches to play.
"I think City probably would win it," Ferguson told the
club's website on Sunday. "Yes. I think, with two games left,
they'd have a great chance."
After Monday's clash, defending champions United face
Swansea City at home before completing their season at
Sunderland.
City's penultimate game is at Newcastle United, who are
chasing a Champions League place, before Roberto Mancini's side
meet relegation-threatened Queen Park Rangers at home on the
final day of the season on May 13.
United were eight points ahead of City in mid-April but
defeat at Wigan Athletic and a 4-4 draw at home to Everton last
weekend when they let slip a 4-2 lead have put their cross-town
rivals back in the title frame.
Ferguson said he was pondering "two or three options" in
team selection to face City, who have won three in a row.
"I just know what we want to do in the game. We've got
enough experience and pace in the team, enough good footballers
and determination," Ferguson added.
"I think we'll be alright in that respect. The game could
be decided by anything, I hope it's not by a bad decision,
that's for sure.
"There's focus on both teams to make it a good game. It's
important as we're representing the city all over the world. [UEFA president] Michel Platini is making an effort to come to
the game. It creates a certain occasion and we want to represent
ourselves the right way."
FLOURISHING PARTNERSHIP
Mancini said the pressure was all on United.
"We don't have any pressure because we don't have anything
to lose," he said.
"For them, I think a draw would be a good result...but I
don't think they have this mentality. Like us, it's difficult
for us to play for a draw, we want to win always also when we
play against a better team than us, like in this moment, like
against United."
Volatile striker Mario Balotelli is available again after
suspension but Mancini is unlikely to break up the flourishing
partnership between Sergio Aguero and ex-United man Carlos
Tevez, whose return from exile has coincided with City's
revival.
Mancini said that he would likely sell the ill-disciplined
Balotelli at the end of the campaign following his red card in a
1-0 defeat against Arsenal on April 8.
Asked if he could trust fellow Italian Balotelli for such a
high-octane game on Monday, Mancini, with a smile on his face,
replied: "I think this game, yes, only this game."