David Platt has admitted that the Premier League title is Manchester United's to lose.
But the Manchester City assistant manager told BBC Radio 5 live that they will be ready to pounce if their Old Trafford neighbours do slip up.
He said: "The title is their's to lose but if they do drop points we have to be in a position to take advantage."
United, with a five-point lead and seven games left, host QPR at 1330 BST Sunday before City play at Arsenal.
After leading the Premier League race for most of the season, Platt attributed their current predicament more to United's good form than a collapse on their part.
"We set out at the start of the season to win the league and every competition," he said.
"We started well but Man Utd have been on a phenomenal run and have kept amassing points.
"And now they have got a cushion but there are seven games to go and strange results can happen.
"If they slip up we have to make sure we are in a position to take advantage and we have to concentrate on our own results.
"We expect them to win their games so anything that comes our way is a bonus."
ARSENE WENGER: SIR ALEX FERGUSON MIND GAMES GETTING TO MANCHESTER CITY
ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger believes Sir Alex Ferguson is winning the mind games war with Roberto Mancini at Man City.
The pair have been firing verbal broadsides at each other over the past few weeks as the pressure mounts in the title race.
And Wenger admits wily Fergie is gradually turning the screws on his ‘noisy neighbours’ and looks set to win yet another title.
Arsenal are at home today to City, whose side could feature Gunners old boys Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy.
But by the time they play, United could already be eight points clear at the top of the table, provided they beat struggling QPR at Old Trafford.
An Arsenal win would help cement a top-four finish after a shaky start and virtually kill off City’s hopes of taking the title from their bitter rivals.
And Wenger said: “Do I wish I was involved in the mind games with those two? Well, yes, I would prefer to be in there.
“You want to be involved in the title race and unfortunately this season we are not involved, which is sad.”
The Emirates coach reckons if a manager becomes unsettled by mind games with a rival boss, it can have an adverse influence on the players, as seems to be happening at City.
Citing the rant by then-Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan in 1996, when his Magpies fell apart, handing the title to Manchester United after earlier having a 12-point lead, Wenger said: “The Keegan outburst is the one the press always gives when talking about Sir Alex’s mind games, so yes, it could make a manager nervous.
“But Mancini looks quite calm. I don’t know.”
Meanwhile, Wenger hopes to finish the season with a flourish so it will enable him to buy top-class players to bolster his squad and keep stars like his brilliant goal-getting skipper Robin van Persie.
Wenger added: “My shopping list depends entirely on where we finish now in the Premier League.
“What I want is to achieve our targets that I have laid down. And that means we want to finish third.
“To do that, winning on Sunday is crucial. The match with Manchester City is a vital game for us.”
I want more dosh
ROBERTO MANCINI insists he must splash the cash again this summer — despite spending £210million in two years.
The Italian is desperate to avoid a repeat of the last three months that have shown his expensive squad found wanting after losing key midfielders and defenders to international duty and injury.
His job is currently safe — but that could change if City continue to unravel during the last seven games starting with today’s clash at Arsenal.
If Mancini does stay, he wants to ensure the same difficulties do not re-occur in 12 months time.
He said: “We lost Yaya and Kolo Toure for the African Nations Cup, had some injuries and lost Vincent Kompany, Joleon Lescott and Sergio Aguero in the last two games. Maybe next year if we lose two important players, we can have another two good players and we can change.
“We finished our job to build a strong team. Now it’s enough to put in three or four more players with a strong mentality.”
Belgian superstar Hazard is high on City’s wishlist after Mancini made a personal check on the £30m-rated winger.
Mancini also wants Digne, 18, a French youth international who recently broke into the first team.
But the Italian reckons these last few weeks have shown United have the squad to go the distance.
He said: “The difference is in 20 players, not the 11, and because they are used to staying on top, they play without problems.” [strike]NOTW[/strike] Sun
Manchester City are planning a £37million double swoop for Lille duo Eden Hazard and Lucas Digne this summer.
City have spent a staggering £210million over the last two years but that may still not be enough to win them the title with arch rivals Manchester United in pole position as Roberto Mancini's men have faltered in recent weeks.
Mancini has blamed the dip in form on losing key players and believes his squad needs to be stronger if City are to go on and win silverware over the years to come.
"We lost Yaya and Kolo Toure for the African Nations Cup, had some injuries and lost Vincent Kompany, Joleon Lescott and Sergio Aguero in the last two games," he revealed. "Maybe next year if we lose two important players, we can have another two good players and we can change. "
We finished our job to build a strong team.
Now it's enough to put in three or four more players with a strong mentality."
Hazard is top of Mancini's wishlist and the Italian is hopeful of beating off competition from some of Europe's top clubs to wrap up a £30million deal, while left-back Digne is available for £7million.
It remains to be seen if Mancini will keep his job but whoever is in charge will be given the green light to spend big again in the summer.
SUNDERLAND TO MOVE FOR ADAM JOHNSON
SUNDERLAND are waiting to make their move for Manchester City winger Adam Johnson.
The England star, born on Wearside, could be sacrificed in a summer shake-up at the Etihad Stadium.
Johnson, 24 joined City from Middlesbrough for £7million two years ago but has failed to convince boss Roberto Mancini that he has a long-term future with the title-chasers.
Mancini has been critical of Johnson, accusing him of not working hard enough in matches.
Sources say Johnson, despite signing a new deal last November that runs to 2016, half expects to be shipped out.
And there’s every chance he could join Martin O’Neill at Sunderland.
Balotelli "lucky" Mancini's his boss says City team-mate
Mario Balotelli only survives at Manchester City because his manager is Italian.
That is the astonishing verdict of City midfielder Nigel de Jong after a season of madcap incidents have engulfed the 21 year-old striker.
De Jong said: “Mario is lucky that we have an Italian manager and that Roberto Mancini speaks the same language.
“Without Mancini, Mario would have gone completely off the rails a long time ago.
“Mario reacts too much to all the people around him.
"Lots of people expect him to do the most ridiculous stunts. This is why there is something in his body or mind that tells him he has to fulfill those expectations.
“He’s thinking all day, ‘I have to do something.’
“Sometimes Mario is a fool, sometimes he is a genius. There are two sides to his character.”
Boss Mancini admitted last week that Balotelli can drive him crazy and that if he’d been a team-mate of mad Mario he’d have punched him every day in training.
Balotelli’s problems will escalate if City’s fade-out ends in Mancini losing his job.
Will his replacement invest as much time in the Italian bad boy?
In a Dutch magazine interview, De Jong went on: “Some players need that buzz around them to perform on the pitch.
“Mario is trying to find the balance in his life. He knows he has to become more serious as a player.
"But like I say, it is good that we have an Italian manager."
Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure to take extended break from international football
The Ivory Coast star is set to focus solely on his club form after having missed six weeks of domestic action during the African Cup of Nations at the start of the year
Yaya Toure is set to take an extended break from international football and focus on winning the Premier League title with Manchester City next season.
And the 28-year-old’s absence was felt as City suffered a dip in their league form while being knocked out of both domestic cup competitions.
Toure is starting to show signs of fatigue as the effects of a long season catch up with him and he is understood to have spoken to family members and team-mates regarding his international future.
The former Barcelona man was frustrated by Les Elephants coach Francois Zahoui after he refused to allow him and brother Kolo to delay their departure to the January tournament despite an official request from City.
The brothers have made it clear that they are proud to represent the Ivory Coast and Kolo admitted they could not turn their back on their country despite the impact it had at the Etihad Stadium.
Yaya, one of the highest earners at the club on around £200,000-a-week, is now ready to focus solely on City and plans to meet with club officials in the summer.
Ivory Coast finished runners-up in the Africa Cup of Nations after losing to Zambia in the final via a penalty shootout.
Silva: Manchester City's trip to Arsenal is like a final
The midfielder also admits his side were 'more efficient' at the start of the season and says it is not easy to continue title-winning form throughout the campaign
David Silva has labelled Manchester City's trip to Arsenal on Sunday 'a final', as Roberto Mancini's side face the prospect of narrowing an eight-point gap between themselves and Manchester United.
Should Sir Alex Ferguson's men secure victory at home to QPR on Sunday, they will pull eight points clear of their title rivals prior to City's match at the Emirates later that same day.
Mancini has already admitted the Premier League title race is likely to be over if City lose to Arsenal, and Silva has reiterated his manager's stance.
"Right now we are not thinking about the derby against United [on April 30], just about the game against Arsenal because it's a real final for us and only a win will do," Silva told Goal.com.
"Arsenal lost their last league match, but they have put together an incredible run of victories [lately] and on their ground it will be very difficult."
City have only won three times away from home in the Premier League since the 6-1 derby victory against Manchester United at Old Trafford in October and Silva admits his side lack the ruthlessness they possessed in the early stages of the campaign.
"The big difference to previous months is that the goals are going in. We are creating opportunities but we need more to beat our close rivals," he said.
"Before we were more efficient. I don't know why it has happened. Maybe injuries have affected us but we can only overcome that by winning and that's our mission at the Emirates.
"We have had pressure for the whole season because we were leaders for many months and even had a lead at the top, but it's not easy to maintain that same rhythm throughout the competition.
"What United are doing does not affect us. They have taken advantage of our slip-ups but they could also slip up at any moment. This season in the Premier League, any team can beat one of the big clubs and even more so in the decisive matches at the end of the season."
Silva is adamant Arsenal have the ability to derail City's title bid and is eagerly anticipating the contest against fellow Spaniard, Mikel Arteta.
"To win in London, we will have to improve the level of play we showed against Stoke and Sunderland. If not, our [title] chances will slip away from us on Sunday," he said.
"Where will Arsenal be dangerous? Everywhere. In midfield, in attack. They are a quality team and even though they have suffered ups and downs, they are capable of beating any rival.
"It will be a special sporting duel with Arteta on the field. That's good for Spanish football."
Manchester City head scout in QPR move
Queens Park Rangers will appoint Mike Rigg, Manchester City's outgoing head of scouting, to a new position of technical director next month. Attracted by the significant additional responsibilities on offer at Loftus Road, Rigg will return to working with Mark Hughes, the former City manager and current QPR coach, a relationship that stretches back to the latter's period in charge of the Wales national team.
Rigg's remit will be to overhaul QPR's recruitment strategy by establishing a scouting network modelled on the 20-man operation he built for City.
As technical director he is also to be handed responsibility for negotiating salaries and rationalising a wage structure that does not include relegation clauses. Rigg will also assume control of QPR's academy, training ground and medical department.
Rigg, 43, spent four years at City. He was brought to the club by Hughes, who benefited at Blackburn Rovers from Rigg's data-orientated approach to player scouting.
The financial support provided by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed allowed him to develop a worldwide scouting network that helped end the club's post-takeover dependency on agent-led recruitment.
Though the amicable nature of the departure is reflected by the fact Rigg will continue to work on City's summer transfer market strategy until the end of this month, his departure, to a club who could slip out of the Premier League, creates another senior vacancy at the Etihad Stadium.
City have been looking for a chief executive since Garry Cook was forced to resign in September. The former Barcelona technical director Txiki Bergiristain has told friends that he has been considered for a move to the club if Ferran Soriano took the post. City have said they are only looking to make one executive appointment.
MCF.net Thread: viewtopic.php?f=119&t=42372
[spoiler]
[/spoiler]OTHER BOLLOX
Andy Carroll, 23, is set to leave Liverpool this summer amid concerns that he has not adapted to 'the Liverpool way'. Sunday Mirror
Cristiano Ronaldo has pledged his future to Real Madrid even though the 27-year-old is reportedly high on Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich's wish-list. Sunday Express
Liverpool are in talks to sign Peruvian midfielder Juan Manuel Vargas, 28, from Fiorentina. The Sun on Sunday
Tottenham face competition from several of Europe's top clubs in the race to sign Emmanuel Adebayor, 28, on a permanent deal. The Sun on Sunday
Neil Warnock wants to begin his own regime at Leeds by signing old favourite Paddy Kenny, the 33-year-old QPR goalkeeper. Sunday Mirror
Fulham manager Martin Jol is desperate to keep Clint Dempsey, 29, at the club with Arsenal lining up a £10m offer. talkSHIT
Roy Hodgson says that any new contract at West Bromwich Albion could contain a special release clause that would allow him to take the England manager's job. Sunday Telegraph
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson thinks Rio Ferdinand, 33, should be in England's Euro 2012 finals squad this summer. Mail on Sunday
Wolves manager Terry Connor is confident he will remain in charge at Molineux until the end of the season. Mail on Sunday
Lee Clark will be targeted by Wolves in the summer because the club has decided that Terry Connor should not stay as manager beyond the summer. Sunday Express
Queens Park Rangers will appoint Mike Rigg to a new position of technical director next month, underlining the club's support for manager Mark Hughes. Sunday Times
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, 18, could have been a rugby union star or a cricketer if he had not made it as a footballer. The Arsenal midfielder had trials for Hampshire as a wicketkeeper batsman, while a London Irish scout tried to persuade him to opt for a career in rugby. Sunday Telegraph
Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand did ballet lessons three times a week as a child, and only gave it up when his classes clashed with football trials. The Observer
[/center]