Sir Alex Ferguson- Manchester derby more intense now.

Manchester derby more intense now - Sir Alex Ferguson

MANCHESTER CITY v MANCHESTER UNITED
Venue: City of Manchester Stadium Date: Wednesday, 10 November
Kick-off: 2000 GMT Coverage: Live on Sky Sports 2; highlights on Match of the Day; talkSPORT, BBC Radio 5 live and local radio; BBC Sport website & mobiles

Sir Alex Ferguson Behind Mancini

Sir Alex Ferguson's side are two points behind Premier League leaders Chelsea

Sir Alex Ferguson believes the Manchester derby has developed a far greater ferocity in recent seasons.

Ahead of Wednesday's Eastlands match, the Manchester United boss insists that City's new competitive muscle means the fixture has a fresh edge.
"There is an incredible intensity in this derby game now, which was not there 10 or 15 years ago," he said.
Meanwhile, City manager Roberto Mancini thinks Chelsea will win the league and that his team are battling for second.
Ferguson - whose preparations for the match have been hampered by various injuries and a virus affecting some of his players - admits that the money City now have at their disposal since being bought by Sheikh Mansour in 2008 adds an extra element to the fixture.
"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," he said, referring to City's major spending in the transfer market.

"It is difficult to say whether it is inevitable they are eventually going to win the league.
"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.
"But there is nothing more satisfying than winning a derby game. It doesn't matter what year it is or when it is. Derby games are fantastic.
"What would you rather be doing, managing a game between City and United or Carlisle against Crewe? They are the ends of the spectrum. Derby games can divide husband and wife. You are involved in a game of emotions."
Ferguson's side sit two points behind Premier League leaders Chelsea, who were beaten at Liverpool at the weekend, while big spending City are a further three points back.
United dramatically won both league games against City last season with injury-time winners and they also emerged victorious from their two-legged Carling Cup semi-final.
Mancini was diplomatic about the rivalry between the two clubs but insisted his team had the talent and belief to defeat United.

Maybe it was worthwhile for some of the supporters but I think a lot of them were embarrassed Ferguson on the infamous Tevez poster

"I think that they know that we are now a strong team," he said.
"We have respect for United and Ferguson because he is the top manager in the world, but we understand that we can beat them now. I think it will be a good game."
City will be without striker Mario Balotelli, who lost an appeal against his red card in the win at West Brom on Sunday, while fellow forward Emmanuel Adebayor is a doubt with a calf strain.
But former Manchester United frontman Carlos Tevez is fit to face his previous employers as Mancini targets a win that would boost his side's chances of finishing the season in the top four and qualifying for the Champions league for the first time.
"I think that Chelsea will win the Premier League but I think that all the other teams that are near them can try [to win it] because the season is long and difficult," added Mancini.
"Our target must be Champions League. At this moment we must just think game after game. We have United and we should only think about this game."

Mancini

 

The infamous 'Welcome to Manchester poster' marking the arrival of Tevez from Old Trafford 16 months ago was the centrepiece of a City marketing campaign which still rankles the United boss.
"I don't know how it was created, probably some advertising gimmick at City. But I don't think they can be proud of it," the 68-year-old Scot added. "I said it was stupid at the time. They probably think that now.
"I don't see how they thought it would get more points off us when it came to playing on a pitch. Maybe it was worthwhile for some of the supporters but I think a lot of them were embarrassed. They would rather see that trophy being paraded through the city before they start screaming from the rooftops."
Ferguson will be without Ryan Giggs and Owen Hargreaves for Wednesday's clash, while Nani is a doubt.
A flu virus has also put a doubt over several players and Ferguson added: "We are counting heads at the moment."
Paul Scholes, Dimitar Berbatov and Nemanja Vidic are believed to be three players suffering from the virus.
"I've no idea where to begin with my team, no ideas at all at the moment," revealed Ferguson.
"We've still got players out with flu and some were sent home on Monday so we're not in a great position at the moment."
Giggs has been denied the chance of making a record 34th derby outing because of a hamstring injury while Nani is struggling with the groin problem he suffered in the Champions League win at Bursaspor.
Hargreaves faces five weeks out after going off early in the 2-1 win over Wolves on Saturday as he made his long awaited comeback.
This match will be explosive what do you think post your comments below.