25th March, 2014
David Moyes wants Manchester United to prove they are still a force to be reckoned with by beating Manchester City on Tuesday night.
City are big favourites for the derby at Old Trafford due to their higher league standing and the fact that United have struggled against the top teams in the league this year.
A 1-0 victory against Arsenal aside, Moyes’ men have not beaten any of the sides in the top nine in what has been a truly disappointing maiden season for the Scot.
Moyes wants that to change tonight though.
“We want to try and perform better in the bigger games than what we have done,” the United manager said. “It will be important for us to show the level of what we have got. I think we have got the level and we are not as far away as many people would have us and I have no doubt it will improve. We want to show we are still in there fighting.
“We will do everything we can to win. We go out to win every game, not just the derby game. Obviously it means a lot more to the supporters and the city if you win a derby game.”
United are 12 points behind City, and Manuel Pellegrini’s men have played two less matches. Pellegrini says his City side are going to Old Trafford expecting to win the derby.
City need to win at the home of local rivals Manchester United to keep up their pursuit of Chelsea and Liverpool is looking increasingly like a three-horse title race.
“It’s a derby, but for our target to win the title we must add three points,” said Pellegrini.
“We don’t need to just win tonight then lose the next game, so I think it’s very important to be a consistent team from now to the end of the season, starting tomorrow.
“We also expect to go and win there, but not just because United have had a difficult season. If tomorrow we play a good game, of course we have the chance to win it.”
Yaya Toure is however warning City to beware the wounded animal, United, saying “People have been describing United as being not so good at the moment, but we have to be careful because derbies are never the same and they will have a lot of desire to beat us.”