Name of game is winning

SOCCER/Manchester City v Manchester Utd:If everything goes according to plan for Alex Ferguson, Manchester United may be confirmed as champions tomorrow evening. But there will be no party at Fairfields, the house he has named after the Govan shipyard where his father worked. "I will be abroad," the manager reported, and the first he will hear about how Chelsea have done at Arsenal will be via text messages on his mobile.

Ferguson is heading for La Romareda, the home of Real Zaragoza, to watch them play Racing Santander and check on Gerard Pique, the 20-year-old United defender on loan with the Spanish club. If United win at Manchester City today their manager will board his flight knowing that Chelsea have to win at the Emirates Stadium to prolong the title race until United's visit to Stamford Bridge on Wednesday. Yet Ferguson urged his players to concentrate on their own performances rather than expecting Arsenal to do them a favour.

"The only way for us to approach this weekend is to win against Manchester City and not to rely on anyone else for help," he said. "To rely on another football club is the wrong attitude. The name of the game is for us to win our game and then it doesn't matter what happens elsewhere. We can only think that way."

On the face of it anything but a United victory would be a surprise, given that City have failed to score a league goal at home since New Year's Day and are in one of their periods of turmoil because of Joey Barton's assault on Ousmane Dabo. City, however, have won three of their past four home games against United and Ferguson, perhaps as a result of what happened against Milan, was far less exuberant than might have been expected.

"It's only five points," he said of United's lead at the top of the table. "If we were to lose two games and Chelsea were to win their last three, they win the league."

Ferguson's true feelings can probably be gauged by his celebrations at Everton last weekend but he was keen not to say anything that could be seen as presumptuous. "Our mind is on winning the game, that's all. Last year, when City won this fixture 3-1, they got in physically against us and the referee allowed it."

United's chances are enhanced by the return of Rio Ferdinand from injury and Patrice Evra from suspension but there is still no sign of Gary Neville, and Ferguson reported that the England full-back was unlikely to play in the Premiership again this season and was instead targeting the FA Cup final against Chelsea on May 19th.

City have their own problems, predominantly in midfield, but Ferguson downplayed Barton's absence. "I don't think it will affect their players," he said. "Once the game starts, whatever has happened during the week will be lost to them."

Although it could be argued the hype surrounding a derby clash is exactly what United need to aid their recovery from their dismal showing in the San Siro, Ferguson feels history suggests his team would bounce back strongly no matter what the opposition. "No one likes to lose, especially in the semi-final of a European tie," he said. "But it is something we have experienced before. Footballers have defeats, you have to recover from them. Historically, during my time here, we have done that very well.

"The players know City will want to put one over on us and try to prevent us winning the league. But these are all things that make it a bigger incentive for us."

Guardian Service