United still number one, says Solskjaer
OLE Gunnar Solskjaer insists United are still the number one club in Manchester despite City’s dominance over the last decade.
United last won the Premier League title in 2013 and City have become champions on four occasions since - three of them in the last four seasons under Pep Guardiola.
City have not suffered a trophyless campaign since Guardiola’s first with the club in 2016-17 - the last season United won anything. Having prepared for an intended championship challenge this term,
United are already eight points behind leaders Chelsea.
The Manchester club rivalry was reignited with the takeover of City by the Abu Dhabi Group in 2008, which intensified in 2009 when United declined the option to sign Carlos Tevez permanently and he headed across town to City.
On the eve of the first derby that season, Sir Alex Ferguson was asked if City - who had invested £118million on their squad in the summer could ever go into a game against United as favourites.
Ferguson pondered the question for 15 seconds and eventually said, “What time is it? I think it is time for me to leave.” As he rose from his seat, he answered: “Not in my lifetime.”
Although United are unbeaten in the last four league derbies, having won three of them, they are seldom considered the favourites going into a derby these days.
City are still 13 championships behind United’s 20, yet United usurped Liverpool in 2011 just 19 years after they trailed their rivals by 11 titles. In keeping with Ferguson’s bullish outlook, Solskjaer does not believe he will witness a day where City overtake United in the English championships table.
“No, I can’t,” Solskjaer said. “But, the thing is, you have to have respect for what they have done in the last ten years or even more so in the last four or five with how dominant they have been in England and in Europe.
“But we are Man United, we are always going to come back, I think we are the number one club in Manchester and that also probably means in the world.”
Victory over City would take
United level on points with their neighbours going into the November internationals, despite just one win from their last five league fixtures.
City have failed to score in six matches already this season and were last week humbled 2-0 at home by Crystal Palace. United have not lost a league derby since April 2019. “It’s an important game and, with a win, we still have got the possibility to close up to the teams in front of us,” Solskjaer acknowledged. “So we have just got to keep on picking up points, turn still, get further away from what we did against Liverpool and move on. “The Tottenham game was miles better but we need to improve in all the aspects of the game. It is only the start of November, so we are not going to talk about the end position in the table.
“But still, every game here in this league is massive and if you can manage three points it’s a job well done.”
City were on the cusp of signing
We are always going to come back, I think we are the number one club in Manchester Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Cristiano Ronaldo in the summer until Ferguson’s 11th-hour intervention emboldened United to make the Portuguese an offer to return to the club. Figures
at United still refuse to admit City’s interest spurred them into action and Solskjaer continued to toe the line.
“The good thing is that would never happen and there is no chance of that happening,” he stressed. “I am happy he is wearing the red and hopefully he can be the difference again.”