Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini say his side are the equal of local rivals Manchester United, despite the fact they are well off the pace in the fight for the title.
Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini say his side are the equal of local rivals Manchester United, despite the fact they are well off the pace in the fight for the title.
Second-placed City trail Premier League leaders United by 15 points ahead of Monday's derby showdown at Old Trafford but Mancini refuses to accept their inferiority.
"We know we can beat them because they are not better than us," he said. "This is sure, 100 per cent.
"We deserved to win the game at the Etihad (in December, which United won 3-2 with a stoppage-time winner). Like them, we are a strong team. There is no difference.
"We are young as a team and we don't have the same importance like United yet.
"The history is very important. We can't do this in two years but maybe in 10 years."
And Mancini thinks the gap between the Manchester teams would be smaller if other teams put up more of a fight against Sir Alex Ferguson's side.
"No one plays well against United, because they only play with fear," said the Italian.
"Every team that plays against them plays very soft, because they think this game is difficult, and they can't beat them. Their mentality is poor.
"They think they can do nothing, but it is not true. If you play strong against United, you can beat them, like they can beat us."
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