Manchester City defender Kolo Toure has become the first player to stoke
the flames ahead of this Saturday's derby by suggesting that
Manchester United's first defeat of the season against Wolves could
be the sign of a slump to come.
United were beaten 2-1 at Molineux on Saturday, a result that
ended their hopes of going through the entire Premier League season
unbeaten, while City's 3-0 victory over West Brom saw Toure and co
move to within five points of their Manchester rivals.
City go to Old Trafford this weekend looking to further close
the gap at the top and also avenge last season's agonising 4-3
defeat, courtesy of Michael Owen's "fergie-time" winner.
And Toure, who was part of the Arsenal side that went through
the 2003-04 campaign without tasting defeat, believes that United
now face a stern examination of their credentials after recalling
how the Gunners struggled when their run eventually ended.
"When you're on a good run like that and you lose, everything
becomes harder," Toure said. "It shakes your confidence. Maybe that
can happen to them. It was difficult to lose that game.
"The circumstances were hard because they got a penalty, which
we didn't think was a penalty. For us, it was really difficult to
lose to United. I think it's a great chance for me to get my
revenge.
"I have spent most of my career in England battling United,
first at Arsenal, now at City. They are always at the top. Now we
have new players, we are capable of fighting against them and that
has been shown with our results against them over the last 18
months.''
And Carlos Tevez, who on Monday reiterated his love
for City, has insisted that he is unworried by the prospect of
being heavily booed on his third return to Old Trafford since
leaving United for their cross-city rivals in 2009.
"I don't care about people booing me at Old Trafford," Tevez
told ZOO magazine. "It doesn't worry me and I'm not
worried about going there. The booing happened a lot last year, but
I understand. As a supporter, you defend your club and I am on the
opposing team now.
"Manchester United fans can never say I didn't give my all
during the time I was there. Maybe many supporters still don't
understand the reason I left. I am a professional footballer and
being booed when I am on the field is a price I have to pay
sometimes. But it won't affect me at all.
"Derby games are always beautiful. I enjoyed them in Argentina
and Brazil but, in England, they are extra-special. Playing against
Manchester United is a big incentive but it's not just because of
personal issues for me. It's about the importance of three points.
We want to go to Old Trafford and win