Alex Ferguson lit the fuse on a potentially explosive showdown with Manchester City in the English Premier League, with the Manchester United manager claiming victory would be one of his club’s greatest results.
For the first time in 44 years, City will go into the derby as reigning champions, but bragging rights from pipping United to the title last season will count for nothing if Ferguson’s side inflict a first league defeat of the season on Roberto Mancini’s men at Eastlands on Sunday.
United are three points clear of second-placed City and the prospect of allowing their bitter rivals to extend that lead is certain to provoke a ferocious response from the hosts after their Champions League exit.
With United showing alarming defensive frailties in recent weeks, encapsulated by a chaotic 4-3 win at Reading last week, Ferguson knows it won’t be easy to subdue City, especially on their home turf.
City haven’t lost a league home game since December 2010 and they can also take confidence from a pair of league victories over their bitter rivals last season.
In the circumstances, Ferguson believes a derby victory would rank as one of the all-time great United triumphs.
“If we win (on Sunday), it will be one of our best ever results. They are a really good, powerful team with massive players,” Ferguson said.
“It won’t be easy and, if we defend like we did at Reading, we’ll be in trouble.”
Mancini faced renewed questions about his future after City’s latest European flop and a defeat to United would only add to the pressure on the Italian.
Reports of Pep Guardiola or Jose Mourinho replacing him at the end of the season will make unpleasant reading, but even Mancini admits his players need to raise their game.
“It’s clear the season isn’t finished. We have the Premier League and FA Cup to go for, but we must work more now. What we’re doing is not enough,” Mancini said. “I don’t feel any pressure.”
Managers under pressure highlight the rest of the weekend’s program at both ends of the table.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has been under fire and another negative result against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday would trigger more criticism. Wenger’s team have just two wins from nine matches in all competitions.
At the Stadium of Light on Saturday, Chelsea interim manager Rafael Benitez and Sunderland boss Martin O’Neill are in desperate need of a morale-boosting victory.
Benitez has yet to win a league match since replacing Roberto Di Matteo, while O’Neill has presided over two wins from 22 league games.
Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert, whose lowly side host Stoke, and Nigel Adkins, whose Southampton team take on fellow strugglers Reading, could also do with three points to keep the critics at bay.
In other matches, Swansea host Norwich, Wigan are home to QPR, Tottenham visit Everton, West Ham are at home to Liverpool and Newcastle travel to Fulham.
