Sir Alex Ferguson believes Manchester United's record in the second half of seasons means they can afford to lose to Manchester City on Sunday.The Red Devils find themselves in the strange position of being behind their local rivals heading into the first all-Manchester showdown of the Premier League season.
If the unbeaten Blues manage to register only their second Old Trafford success in 37 years, it will put them five points clear of United. However, whilst Ferguson is not actively embracing thoughts of defeat, he knows from past experience how his squad comes good over the final few months, when the battle for honours on all fronts is intensifying. "This game could be significant at the end of the season," said the United boss. "It is a six-pointer. It will make a difference to whichever team wins it. "But it is early doors and you can recover. There is no doubt about that. "With our record in the second half of the season, you hope that we will be better."
"He has his job to do like everyone else," said the Scot. "We have all got difficult jobs picking teams. Mine is exactly the same. I am pondering a couple of positions myself." Since then, City have dropped just two points, when they surrendered a two-goal lead at Fulham, and Ferguson accepts the Blues are in fine form. "It is an exciting prospect," he said. "City have done fantastically well and if they had not thrown a two-goal lead away at Fulham they would have been top of the league with a 100 per cent record.
