Sir Alex Ferguson has once again condemned Manchester City's award-winning 'Welcome to Manchester' Carlos Tevez poster and suggested most of their supporters would prefer to win something before the Blues began their mickey-taking.
Ferguson was displeased with the Tevez poster when it first appeared in the summer of 2009, branding it stupid and childish.
Although it did recently win the Best Marketing award at the MBNA north west Football Awards, it did not do City much good on the pitch given United won three of the four derby meetings between the two clubs last term and City failed to secure a Champions League spot.
The poster has gone but Ferguson has chosen the eve of this season's first encounter between Manchester's halves of red and blue at Eastlands to confirm his views.
"I don't know how it was created, probably some advertising gimmick at City, but I don't think they can be proud of it," Ferguson said.
"I said it was stupid at the time. They probably think that now. I don't see how they thought it would get more points off us when it came to playing on a football pitch.
"Maybe it was worthwhile for some of the supporters but I think a lot of them were embarrassed. They would rather see that trophy being paraded through the city before they start screaming from the rooftops."
City have already lost their first hope of silverware this term after defeat in a Carling Cup tie at West Brom, while three defeats in the Premier League leave them with plenty of ground to make up on Chelsea.
And amid the heightened intensity of Wednesday night's showdown, Ferguson insists he will not lose sight of the real barrier to United's hopes of glory this term.
"If you don't recognise who won the league last season then you are very foolish," he said. "We have to chase Chelsea. That is our challenge.
"It is not easy winning our league and they are a very formidable and experienced side."
Nevertheless, Ferguson is not downplaying just what a high octane occasion Wednesday will be.
The atmosphere will be white hot, which is just how the 68-year-old likes it.
"City have been in the Second Division for periods since I came down," he added.
"It is only in the last few years they have been in a consistent position in the Premier League.
"They are far more solid. There is a far better structure to them. And derby games are fantastic. What would you rather being doing, managing a game between City and United or Carlisle against Crewe?
"They are the ends of the spectrum. Derby games can divide husband and wife. You are involved in a game of emotions."
It is the first meeting between the two clubs since the uproar over Wayne Rooney's Old Trafford future, which at one point seemed to be heading towards the England forward following Tevez from Old Trafford to Eastlands.
Tevez still laments the fact it did not happen, although Ferguson is not entering the debate about such a possibility, however remote.
"There was no interest from City. How can I say there was? There was no approach from City to us," Ferguson added.
Rooney will be missing on Wednesday night with an injury that is likely to ensure he sits out England's friendly with France next Wednesday, a move that should usher in Newcastle's Andy Carroll.
In Rooney's absence, Ferguson has had to rely on Javier Hernandez far more than he would have expected, with Gabriel Obertan and Bebe his supporting forwards in the win over Wolves on Saturday.
"I listened to Match of the Day on Saturday and they said we were hopeless," Ferguson said.
"But we had five world-class players out of the team and had three lads up front who had only 30 games between them. We still won.
"It was a fantastic achievement given all the problems we had."
Illness and injury are again causing United worries, with Ryan Giggs among those missing out, the first time he will not have been part of a derby encounter since he began a record run of 33 appearances in 1991.
Yet, as Roberto Mancini must be aware, Ferguson's capacity for producing victories is second to none.
The Scot is also fulsome in his praise when he feels someone deserves it, although Mancini might wonder if there is an ulterior motive.
"I like Roberto. He is a good coach," Ferguson said. "It is a difficult task when you get a group of players put in front of you for the first time and you have to organise it all. He has done his job well."
I like the way Taggart thinks he knows what we want, I think 18 months on from the poster itself, it still being under his skin is what most City fans would want but never dare dream.
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