• Premier League

United will take title even if beaten by City - Fergie

Sir Alex Ferguson has predicted Manchester United will finish ahead of rivals City even if they lose this weekend's crunch derby.

United would fall five points behind their neighbours if they lose at Old Trafford on Sunday. City are yet to taste defeat this season, dropping only two points in eight games, so Ferguson knows the visitors would be difficult leaders to rein in.

The United manager made little effort to play down the weekend encounter, confessing that he does view it as a six-pointer. However, the champions have traditionally always finished strongly over his 25 years in charge, so the Scot is confident defeat would not be terminal to their title hopes.

"You don't want to be behind clubs. But we've shown the determination and decision-making to get back to the top," Ferguson said.

"Every game could be significant, it is really a six-pointer [against City] - no about that. Whichever team wins, it makes that difference.

"But you can recover from it. In the second half of the season, particularly with the way we usually finish, you would like to think that, come the end of the season, we'll be better."

Ferguson also gave his views on the possibility of Wayne Rooney being selected for Great Britain's football squad, should he not feature for England at Euro 2012 next summer. In Ferguson's eyes, regardless of whether Rooney's suspension keeps him inactive for England, it would be dangerous to take the forward to London 2012.

"I think this is spurred by the fact that Argentina and Nigeria, at the last Games, played their strongest teams. That's what it's coming from," Ferguson surmised.

"We have a different type of football. The intensity of the English game is second to none. It's exhausting. That's why I never expect England to do well at a European Championships or a World Cup. The players have a hell of a season, so it's difficult to get their level up after a full season.

"It's the same with the Olympics. I don't see how they can expect them to raise the bar after a long season. You need the pre-season, you need the recuperation. I'm sure it won't make a difference what I'm saying, but it's fact."

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