Source: Daily_Mail
Neville relishing showdown week as United get ready for City and Arsenal
Defender Gary Neville admits Manchester United have a big week ahead of them as they attempt to overturn Manchester City's advantage in the Carling Cup semi-final before facing Arsenal in a crunch Premier League clash.[LNB]Neville has been involved in much of the fallout from their 2-1 defeat at Eastlands last Tuesday as his spat with former team-mate Carlos Tevez, City's two-goal hero, escalated almost every day.[LNB]And although the England international is focused on the midweek second leg at Old Trafford he acknowledges the prospect of a trip to the Emirates Stadium has huge significance in what he deemed a three-horse race for the Premier League title.[LNB] Going top: Wayne Rooney scores his third goal in Saturday's win over Hull[LNB]'The fact that we played a strong team in the Carling Cup against City shows how important the match was,' said Neville.[LNB]'We want to get a consistent run of performances now. At the moment we have to play a strong team to try to win every match and hopefully win trophies.[LNB]'We are getting to the business end of the season and we want to make sure we are competing in finals and competing for the championship.[LNB] City slicker: Carlos Tevez scored twice last week to put pressure on United in the Carling Cup semi-finals [LNB]'Nothing is won and lost in January, but at the moment Arsenal,ourselves and Chelsea are looking like the teams most likely to mount achampionship challenge.[LNB]Case for the defence: Neville knows United face a tough week[LNB]'It's not too late for teams behind us toput a run together. But there is a gap (10 points) now between the topthree and the rest, and it can be very difficult to close such gaps.'[LNB]On the looming trip to Arsenal next Sunday, Neville added: 'It's always difficult to go to the Emirates and Arsenal are a very good side in good form, so it's a big week for us and one for us to look forward to.'[LNB]Despite Saturday's 4-0 thrashing of Hull, with Wayne Rooney scoring all four goals, the 34-year-old is still smarting from the defeat by their city rivals, during which Tevez and Neville exchanged gestures and later Tevez called his former team-mate 'an idiot' and 'a boot-licker'.[LNB]'Our attacking play probably deserved more than one goal but the beauty of a two-legged tie is we live to fight another day,' Neville wrote in the Times of Malta.[LNB]'We conceded two goals, which was disappointing, but the great thing about this tie is we've got another opportunity to put it right on Wednesday. It's all to play for.'[LNB] Police on red alert amid fears over Manchester derby cup clashMARTIN SAMUEL: Once a red always a red? It's not a sure thing for Wayne RooneyMANCHESTER UNITED FC
