Alex Ferguson has slammed Roberto Mancini after the Manchester City manager claimed Manchester United get an easy ride from scared opponents.
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Mancini angered Ferguson by suggesting one of the reasons why United have been able to open up a 12- point lead at the top of the Premier League is that their opponents play with fear against them and believe they cannot win.
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But United boss Ferguson, whose side can move 15 points clear with a victory at Stoke on Sunday, pointed to the number of times his team have come from behind to win this season as proof that Mancini is wrong.
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"That's absolute nonsense," Ferguson said. "He was maybe looking for a bit of self-sympathy or something like that.
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"We all recognise the English game is the most honest in the world and has been for many years.
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"At Norwich this season the energy their two wide players expended was phenomenal.
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"They ran 100 miles. That's an example of the Premier League. And the Reading game, when it went to 3-2, I thought we were going to lose.
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"There are a lot of games I've watched this season, when I've said to myself 'are they trying?' - of course they're trying.
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"These teams have 3 000 fans following them away from home. There is no way they could come to Old Trafford and not do their best.
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"That also applies itself to Eastlands, Stamford Bridge, the Emirates or Anfield. That is the nature of the English game."