Rooney wants derby delight

LONDON. — Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney is eager to add to Manchester City’s woes in tomorrow’s Derby at Old Trafford.

A marked reversal in fortunes means third-placed United lead fourth-placed defending champions City by a point heading into this weekend’s clash, although both are probably too far behind leaders Chelsea for either of the Manchester clubs to mount a title challenge.

But a top-three finish and direct entry into the Champions League is still on the horizon, not that the Manchester pair need much in the way of additional motivation when playing each other.

England striker Rooney, 29, is now United’s leading derby scorer in history with 11 goals against City since arriving at Old Trafford from Everton in 2004.

City, however, have had the upper hand in recent times, winning their last four matches against United and Rooney is desperate to put an end to that run.

“You play for Man United, you want to win these derby games,” he told MUTV, United’s in-house television station.

“We want to give United fans something to smile about when they go to work on Monday morning, we want them to be the ones to be able to give out the banter to Manchester City fans at work.

“I think it’s a very important game for Manchester United and Manchester City… for the fans and, for me, it’s a massive game of pride,” added Rooney, who scored a superb volley in last week’s 3-1 win over Aston Villa.

Victory would put United four points in front of City, under pressure after dropping to fourth following a shock 2-1 loss to Crystal Palace on Monday.

United manager Louis van Gaal could recall compatriot Robin van Persie after the Dutch striker returned to training this week following an ankle injury.

City have won just four of their last 11 league games but manager Manuel Pellegrini insisted he wasn’t concerned about his own position.

“I’m never concerned about my job. I do my work and am very happy. You maybe have a difficult season, but you never worry about things like this,” Pellegrini said.

As for the title race, the Chilean added: “Every point you drop makes it more difficult, but it’s the same answer. We are not thinking about the title… Just about the next game at Old Trafford.”

Captain Vincent Kompany is a doubt for Manchester City.

Kompany, who turned 29 yesterday, sustained a hamstring injury in the Premier League defeat to Crystal Palace on Monday.

“Vincent will be assessed for a problem he got last week,” manager Manuel Pellegrini told a news conference yesterday.

“We will see tomorrow if he will play or not. It is always better to play with Kompany, but if he can’t play, we have a squad.”

City have lost three out of five Premier League games since the beginning of March, and have fallen to fourth in the table, nine points behind leaders Chelsea and one behind third-placed United.

It is the first time this season that City have been lower in the table than their neighbours. Pellegrini – whose job is under threat, according to British media reports – would not say whether he believes his team can still overhaul Chelsea in the race for the title.

“All that is in my mind is just to think about winning the next game you play, and that is the derby against United,” the Chilean told reporters.

“Never is a draw a good result. I understand we are not having the away results we want. 2015 is not a good year for us for this, but the motivation is to win, always.”

He said he was not surprised that United have improved significantly under manager Louis van Gaal.

“Louis van Gaal’s teams are offensive teams who try to win titles,” Pellegrini said.

“United bought a lot of very good players in the summer: (Angel) Di Maria, (Ander) Herrera, (Radamel) Falcao, (Juan) Mata the season before and (Daley) Blind.

“They bought a lot of very good players – the strange thing was why they weren’t doing it before, but it’s no surprise (they have improved).

“I don’t like to compare – always when you make these comparisons, there are a lot of things you don’t analyse.”

Pellegrini confirmed that striker Wilfried Bony will miss the derby at Old Trafford with ankle and knee injuries.

Chelsea will take a giant stride towards the title if they win away tomorrow to west London rivals QPR, who gained a battling point in their Premier League survival bid with a 3-3 midweek draw at Aston Villa.

The build-up to this week’s match has seen Jose Mourinho accept publicly what friends and foes have long acknowledged – that he is a master manipulator.

“I agree that sometimes I can have something of Machiavelli in some of my comments, but no more than that,” Mourinho said.

Villa travel to Tottenham today with manager Tim Sherwood adamant he bore no resentment towards his former club for sacking him as their boss last year.

“I wouldn’t be sitting here as Aston Villa manager if it wasn’t for Tottenham Hotspur,” Sherwood said.

“I was relieved of my duties and walked out with my head held very high. I was pleased with what I did.”

Southampton continue their quest for Europa League football at home to Hull while bottom-of-the-table Leicester face West Bromwich Albion.

Today also sees Sunderland, fresh from their derby win over Newcastle, at home to Palace.

Liverpool, beaten 4-1 by Arsenal last time out, face Newcastle at Anfield on Monday night

Fixtures (All games at 4pm unless stated)

Today

Swansea v Everton (13.45)

West Ham United v Stoke City

West Bromwich Albion v Leicester City

Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa

Sunderland v Crystal Palace