Bitter rivals in the mood for derby to savour

VINCENT KOMPANY hopes Manchester City’s 2–0 UEFA Cup victory at Schalke last night has given them an ideal confidence boost for this weekend’s derby showdown with Manchester United.

Benjani Mwaruwari and Stephen Ireland were on target to lift Mark Hughes’ team to their second win in as many group matches and send them through to the last 32.

With Pablo Zabaleta nursing a thigh injury, Kompany was moved back to central defence, where he delivered an excellent performance alongside Richard Dunne.

Micah Richards and Javier Garrido completed a rock–solid back four.

“The change was no surprise to me,” Kompany said. “Since my move to City, I only played in midfield — and my performances were very, very good.

“But I knew the coach signed me because I could help out in central defence in case of injuries. That is no problem for me — I know my role. I always knew I could help the team in defence sooner or later.”

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After defeating Arsenal and Schalke in quick succession, Kompany claims City will be entering the Barclays Premier League match against United on a high on Sunday (kick-off 1.30pm).

“The two wins were very important,” he added. “In the last two games we did not have as much possession as we usually have — but we got rewarded because we were organised, concentrated and played like a very experienced team.

“It is great for our confidence. Obviously, we are really looking forward to the match (against United). It will be very special.”

Hughes also feels his side are in a winning frame of mind going into the big game.

“Confidence–wise, we are in great shape,” he said. “People looked at the week that we had ahead of us — with Arsenal, Schalke and Manchester United — and they felt it might be beyond us.

“But I know the quality I have in my squad, and the work we do on a daily basis is just coming to fruition.”

Meanwhile, Sir Alex Ferguson puts Manchester United’s below–par results away from Old Trafford this season down to the difficulty of their fixtures rather than any underlying problem for the Barclays Premier League champions.

United would normally have expected to register more than just two wins on their travels at this stage of the season.

Yet they head to Eastlands boasting only a couple of successes, at Portsmouth and Blackburn.

However, as Ferguson pointed out, the Red Devils have also taken on the remainder of their big–four rivals, plus fourth–placed Aston Villa in an arduous programme that does not get easier until after Christmas given they must also visit in–form Tottenham immediately before the Club World Cup in Japan.

“We have had a lot of hard games,” reflected Ferguson. “Chelsea, Arsenal and now Man City away from home, straight after a European (match) is not easy.

“Hopefully the second half will promise much better for us because at the moment, we are playing catch–up.”

United’s situation was not made any easier by the postponement of their meeting with Fulham in August, a game they have been unable to reschedule due to their extended run in the Carling Cup.

The meeting with Wigan on December 20 must also be put back as they will be competing to be named world number one in the Far East, placing even more emphasis on Sunday’s short journey across Manchester, where United have won only twice in six trips.

In fact, City are going for a third straight triumph over their old rivals, having completed the double last season, 1-0 at home and 2-1 at Old Trafford.