Title finale looms for Manchester rivals
Source: Agencies |
May 13, 2012, Sunday
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MANCHESTER United manager Alex Ferguson and Manchester City rival Roberto Mancini will rally their troops one last time today when the nine-month battle for the English Premier League title will end in victory for one or the other.
The final scenes in what is widely regarded as the best season since the Premier League replaced the first division 20 years ago will be played out at the Etihad Stadium where City takes on Queens Park Rangers and at the Stadium of Light where Sunderland hosts United.
The mathematics are simple enough. Both have 86 points but City's goal difference is eight better than United's.
If City wins it will be champion for the first time since 1968. All that could stop it is if United wins by nine goals.
If City loses or draws and United wins, then United will retain the title it won last year and be crowned champion for the 20th time, a new record.
With the time for the final action almost upon them, Ferguson and Mancini faced the press for their last pre-match conferences of the season on Friday.
Ferguson indulged in his usual psychological mind games by saying City could suffer "untold damage" in the unlikely event that it misses out on winning the title.
"I think the disappointment of City losing out would be unbelievable and it's untold at this moment in time what effect it could have on them," said Ferguson.
"On the face of it you expect City to win and so do I. But as long as human beings are human beings you never know. You hope something stupid happens."
Mancini said today's game was not a personal battle between him and his opposite number Mark Hughes, once a United player and the man sacked as City manager to make way for Mancini in December 2009.
QPR needs a point to avoid relegation, a point that could also deny City the title and give Hughes some revenge for his sacking.
"For me, they (QPR) are a good team, they don't deserve to stay at the bottom," said Mancini.
"I don't know him very well but it is not Mancini against Hughes or Hughes against Mancini. It is City against QPR.
"One team plays for the title, the other plays against relegation."
The final scenes in what is widely regarded as the best season since the Premier League replaced the first division 20 years ago will be played out at the Etihad Stadium where City takes on Queens Park Rangers and at the Stadium of Light where Sunderland hosts United.
The mathematics are simple enough. Both have 86 points but City's goal difference is eight better than United's.
If City wins it will be champion for the first time since 1968. All that could stop it is if United wins by nine goals.
If City loses or draws and United wins, then United will retain the title it won last year and be crowned champion for the 20th time, a new record.
With the time for the final action almost upon them, Ferguson and Mancini faced the press for their last pre-match conferences of the season on Friday.
Ferguson indulged in his usual psychological mind games by saying City could suffer "untold damage" in the unlikely event that it misses out on winning the title.
"I think the disappointment of City losing out would be unbelievable and it's untold at this moment in time what effect it could have on them," said Ferguson.
"On the face of it you expect City to win and so do I. But as long as human beings are human beings you never know. You hope something stupid happens."
Mancini said today's game was not a personal battle between him and his opposite number Mark Hughes, once a United player and the man sacked as City manager to make way for Mancini in December 2009.
QPR needs a point to avoid relegation, a point that could also deny City the title and give Hughes some revenge for his sacking.
"For me, they (QPR) are a good team, they don't deserve to stay at the bottom," said Mancini.
"I don't know him very well but it is not Mancini against Hughes or Hughes against Mancini. It is City against QPR.
"One team plays for the title, the other plays against relegation."
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