Fergie knocks City rivalry

Published: 18 Sep 2009 - 14:04:21

Rss feed

Sir Alex Ferguson believes Liverpool will always be seen as Manchester United's true local rivals despite Manchester City's emergence as a possible top-four power. City's £120million spending spree in the summer has given them the platform to stake a serious title challenge this term let alone a top-four push. However City face their toughest test of the season when Mark Hughes takes his side to Old Trafford on Sunday for one of the most eagerly anticipated derbies in recent memory following the Blues' impressive start to the season. However Ferguson still maintains that United's electric clashes with old foes Liverpool remain the club's real rivalry. "I don't know, I don't think so," the Scot stated when asked whether the Manchester derby would ever grow to be bigger than the Liverpool matches. "To me Liverpool will always be the derby game. It is just because of the history. When I came down here they were the king-pins of England. "They had won four European Cups and quite a few league titles. My aim was to do well against them and to try and turn that round. "It is hard for me to go against history." Ferguson also admitted to still being irked by City's tactic to deploy a giant Carlos Tevez poster in the city centre emblazoned with the words 'Welcome to Manchester'. "That stupid poster upset us," he added. "It showed an arrogance, it was naughty, it showed a cockiness that wasn't required at the time because they hadn't done anything. "The season hadn't even started."