Sir Alex Ferguson admits Man Utd need to get used to the fact that neighbours Man City are now serious challengers for top honours.
United boss acknowledges that City are now serious contenders
Sir Alex Ferguson admits Manchester United need to get used to the fact that neighbours Manchester City are now serious challengers for top honours.
For a long time, the Red Devils have dominated the football scene in Manchester, with Ferguson having overseen an era of unrivalled success at Old Trafford.
City, though, are now right back in the picture, with ambitious and wealthy owners seeing them surge back into the reckoning when the end-of-season silverware is handed out.
They have already got a taste for trophies, with last season's FA Cup triumph seeing them end 35 years of hurt.
The intention now is to kick on and challenge for Premier League titles and European honours.
Ferguson appreciates that the Blues must now be considered as strong contenders for the top prizes, with United going to have to raise their own game if they are to keep their noses in front - starting with Sunday's FA Cup third round derby date at the Etihad Stadium.
Regular
"The way we and our supporters should look at it is that we may as well get used to it, because they are not going to go away," he told
Inside United.
"We played them in a semi-final last year and the year before, we're both in the Europa League this year and now we are facing them in the FA Cup.
"So we have to get used to the fact that City are going to be challenging for competitions along with us.
"There's every chance we're going to meet at some point, maybe not every year, but on average it's going to be pretty regular.
"It's a hard FA Cup draw for us, but it will be hard for them too."
Atmosphere
United will cross the Manchester divide on Sunday looking to offer a positive response to back-to-back defeats in the Premier League.
Setbacks against Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United have allowed City to edge three points clear at the top of the table and Ryan Giggs admits it is important for the Red Devils to re-establish some momentum this weekend.
"It is obviously a big game against City in the FA Cup," he said.
"The atmosphere will be good, we'll take a load of fans there, and hopefully we can get back to winning ways."
