OTELUL GALATI barely warranted a mention from Manchester United’s players as they filed out of the National Arena in Bucharest, although not because their performance was one to forget. All minds switched to Sunday after the defeat of Romania’s champions, and a date with Manchester City that Nani admits will be the city’s most important derby of the Premier League era.
Roberto Mancini’s team will arrive at Old Trafford in the unusual position of looking down on United and seeking to establish a five-point lead over their rivals at the top of the league. There is no trepidation among Alex Ferguson’s champions as United have not dropped a point at home in more than a year. For Nani, that home form outweighs any improvement made by the league leaders this season.
“Every year the games against City seem to get more important,” said the Portuguese. “They are playing well, they have a good team, they have good players, they are doing fantastic and of course it will be more difficult than other games. But we should not forget, we are United. We are playing at home and that is a big factor for us. We have a fantastic home record. Whenever we play the big games we have a positive attitude and want to win.”
Nani insists City’s victory in last season’s FA Cup semi-final has no psychological bearing on Sunday’s encounter. He said: “All the players have forgotten that game now, especially as we beat City in the Community Shield at Wembley. It’s important that we remember that rather than the semi-final or any other games we lose.”
Nani was among the few in the United team who responded to the urgent need for a first Champions League win of the season in Bucharest. He’s also hoping that his recent record of three goals in three appearances against City will work in his favour.
“We usually play well against City. All the players want to play in these games, especially me. My confidence for these games is high and I feel comfortable in these sort of games. I like the pressure these games bring. I scored a good goal against them last season but (Wayne) Rooney’s was even better. I feel confident and comfortable I can score again.”
Several hundred Bulgarians travelled to the Romanian capital on Tuesday in an attempt to persuade Dimitar Berbatov to reverse his decision to retire from international football. Their trip was in vain, however. He said: “I would like to thank the fans, it was very pleasant. (But) I can’t play for the national team if I’m not playing for my club. I want to get more chances because I know I can help the team.”
United, meanwhile, have granted the FA permission to speak to Patrice Evra as part of its inquiry into his claims that he was racially abused by Luis Suarez at Anfield. Both players are expected to be interviewed, with Evra to give his submission this week.
