Time to end United taunts – Mancini

ROBERTO Mancini has urged his Manchester City side to force United fans to tear down the banner they use to taunt their neighbours.

City are on the brink of lifting their first trophy since 1976, but supporters at Old Trafford never tire of reminding their city rivals of the length of their silverware famine, annually updating a banner which hangs at the Stretford End with the amount of time it has been since they last won anything.

It recently ticked around to 35 years and City boss Mancini said: "They can take off this banner. We hope we can take it off this year."

He added: "The final will be harder because probably we are favourites.

"In 90 minutes, anything can happen. If we play with the same spirit, we can win. If not, we don't win."