• Premier League

Mancini: A 1-0 derby win would suit me fine

ESPN staff
December 9, 2012
Mario Balotelli does not expect a repeat of last season's 6-1 © AFP
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Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini would happily take a 1-0 victory over arch-rivals Manchester United on Sunday.

City, the reigning Premier League champions, beat United 6-1 at Old Trafford last season - but the Italian would be happy enough if his side repeated the 1-0 win at the Etihad Stadium late in the campaign that helped them seal the title, when the two sides meet on Sunday.

"A 1-0 is enough for us," Mancini said. "They will improve their defensive face.

"At the start of the season, we had the same problems and we improved. It will be the same for them.

"With the 6-1, they had only 10 players for most of the second half. But in the second derby, we played very well.

"We did not concede any chances. The second was a true derby because when you have 10 men, it's clear that you have some problems."

United go into the game with a three-point lead in the table, but Mancini is confident his players can erase that gap entirely if they play to their potential.

"We need to forget what we did last year because it doesn't matter now," he noted. "But remember if we play like last year, we have a good chance to win."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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