Last updated: 27th November 2008
Rooney: Ready for derby
Wayne Rooney is aiming to show City that United are still 'the kings of Manchester' in Sunday's eagerly-anticipated derby.
Manchester City won both meetings between the local rivals last season, but United went on to secure Premier League and UEFA Champions League glory.
But the Abu Dhabi United Group's takeover at City earlier this season has fuelled dreams that the blue half of Manchester can become the biggest club in the world.
Sunday serves up the first clash between the teams since the takeover and Rooney is relishing the fixture, live on Sky Sports 1, after missing both of last season's defeats.
"Sunday is a massive game," said Rooney. "Yes, we owe the fans a derby win even though we did win two trophies last season.
"Losing both games was extremely disappointing. It is a massive game for the players, the fans and the club - especially after what has happened at City with the takeover.
"It will be nice to show them who are the kings of Manchester. I missed both derbies last season and that was really frustrating having to watch when you cannot do anything about it. I am looking forward to Sunday.
"It doesn't irritate us that City are getting all this publicity. If they were winning trophies it would irritate me, but while they are still lingering in mid-table I am not really too bothered about it."
With United currently eight points behind Premier League leaders Chelsea and Liverpool, Rooney accepts the champions must beat City this weekend.
He added: "It is different to any other game. The atmosphere at City is a really good one. The players always get up for it. Our fans will push us on. If we can win, and I am sure we can, it will be a great result for us.
"We cannot afford not to win, especially if Liverpool and Chelsea win their games. We have to keep winning all the games and I am sure we will catch them up. Our away form hasn't been great, but I am not too sure why that is.
"But we are still not too far away from Liverpool and Chelsea and that is the main thing for us. We normally finish the season strongly and hopefully we can do that again."

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| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 15th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Aston Villa vs Wigan |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Man City |
| 15:00 | Bolton vs Sunderland |
| 15:00 | Chelsea vs Hull |
| 15:00 | Everton vs Arsenal |
| 15:00 | Man Utd vs Birmingham |
| 15:00 | Portsmouth vs Fulham |
| 15:00 | Stoke vs Burnley |
| 15:00 | Tottenham vs Liverpool |
| 15:00 | Wolverhampton vs West Ham |
| Tuesday 18th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Birmingham vs Portsmouth |
| 19:45 | Burnley vs Man Utd |
| 19:45 | Fulham vs Blackburn |
| 19:45 | Hull vs Tottenham |
| 19:45 | Sunderland vs Chelsea |
| 19:45 | Wigan vs Wolverhampton |
| Wednesday 19th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Liverpool vs Stoke |
| Saturday 22nd August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Arsenal vs Portsmouth |
| 15:00 | Birmingham vs Stoke |
| 15:00 | Burnley vs Everton |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Sunday 24th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 1 - 0 Newcastle | |
| Blackburn 0 - 0 West Brom | |
| Hull 0 - 1 Man Utd | |
| Man City 1 - 0 Bolton | |
| Sunderland 2 - 3 Chelsea | |
| Fulham 0 - 2 Everton | |
| Arsenal 4 - 1 Stoke | |
| West Ham 2 - 1 Middlesbrough | |
| Wigan 1 - 0 Portsmouth | |
| Liverpool 3 - 1 Tottenham | |
| Monday 18th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Portsmouth 3 - 1 Sunderland | |
| Sunday 17th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Chelsea 2 - 0 Blackburn | |
| West Brom 0 - 2 Liverpool | |
| Saturday 16th May | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Newcastle 0 - 1 Fulham | |
| Bolton 1 - 1 Hull | |
| Stoke 2 - 0 Wigan | |
| Middlesbrough 1 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Tottenham 2 - 1 Man City | |
| Everton 3 - 1 West Ham | |
| Man Utd 0 - 0 Arsenal | |
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