Sir Alex Ferguson admits the magnitude of the Manchester derby has soared in recent seasons.
United boss recognises new intensity of Manchester duel
Sir Alex Ferguson admits the magnitude of the Manchester derby has soared in recent seasons.
After beating United 5-1 in September 1989, City failed to defeat the Reds at all in the 90's during a run of 16 derby clashes until the Blues won 3-1 in the last clash at Maine Road in November 2002.
United's rivalry with Liverpool replaced their derby duels as their most heated matches of the season, with Ferguson's side aiming to topple the Reds as England's most successful club.
While City have since pulled off the occasional derby victory, doing a long-awaited double over United in 2007/08, only local bragging rights have been at stake as the Blues have posed no threat to United's quest for silverware.
Crucial takeover
However, following Sheikh Mansour's takeover in 2008, City are establishing themselves as genuine contenders for major honours and are becoming a greater threat to United's aspirations than their old foes from Merseyside.
Last season saw United emerge victorious from an epic Carling Cup semi-final and City can go joint second with United with victory in Wednesday's derby at Eastlands.
"The Liverpool game is one of honour in terms of trophies won," said Ferguson.
"Liverpool edge it in European Cups, we edge it in FA Cups and World Championships. We are undoubtedly the two most successful clubs in British football.
"Now the meetings with City are ones of great intensity, which is built up by the media explosion around what they are doing and what they are trying to achieve.
"The fact we are both in the same city means there is an incredible intensity in this derby game now, which was not there 10 or 15 years ago."
Given the amount City's new owners have spent on players in the last two years, many expect the Blues to challenge for the Premier League title perhaps as early as this season.
No guarantees
Yet United boss Ferguson reckons City have realised that money may not necessarily buy them success.
There was speculation over Roberto Mancini's future before the Blues ended a run of three straight defeats with a 2-0 win at West Brom at the weekend, when defeats for Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham showed again that results don't always go to plan.
"It is difficult to say whether it is inevitable they are eventually going to win the league," Ferguson added.
"Obviously, in many people's eyes, having the money is a lot better than not but this is still a difficult league to win. City recognise that themselves.
"Look at the results at the weekend - that tells you everything. If clubs have money and want to spend it, they will. It is not an unusual. It is a fact of life. The only difference is that City is an untapped well at the moment."
