Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini claims Manchester United have been lucky in building their substantial lead at the Premier League summit.
Reigning champions City host Chelsea on Sunday looking to trim United's significant advantage, stretched to 15 points on Saturday when they triumphed 2-0 at QPR.
Mancini's men face a huge task if they are to peg back their city rivals but the manager insists United have had the rub of the green on their way to the top.
"Until now, United have been really lucky with everything," he said.
"They have won a lot of games in the last minute - like against us when they really didn't deserve to win.
"So I don't think the gap between United and us is correct at this moment. They are doing better than us this season, for sure.
"But we have lost points in games we deserved to win, when we just couldn't score.
"For this reason, I say this is the difference. Last year we scored a lot of goals up to this point. We're maybe missing 10 goals and maybe seven or eight points."
City capitalised last season as United's title bid collapsed during the run-in and Mancini is hoping the pressure of their Champions League campaign will prompt a similar slip-up before the Manchester derby on April 8.
He added: "If United go forward in the Champions League the last two months will be hard for them.
"They could lose five points in two games before the derby."
Update:
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what do you think?
james
Too right darren if it was fergie saying this about city there would be atleast 10 comments slating him. Mancinis claims that he was the better manager because he won 3 trophies in 3 years, counting the charity shield or whatever they call it now is just desperate
Paul Gilbert
I get it, United are lucky because Man City didn't score enough goals??? If QPR had scored 40 more goals maybe they would be champions???
Jamie ONeill
Man U accumulate a lot of points by scoring very late on. They are also experts at winning games in which they play badly. That is the way to win titles and I can see Man City winning any more with that donkey in charge
Paul Gilbert
Eleven games to go: United (H) Norwich, Reading, Villa, Swansea, City & Chelsea United (A) Sunderland, Stoke, West Ham, Arsenal & WBA City (H) Wigan, Newcastle, WBA, West Ham, Norwich City (A) Villa, Everton, United, Tottenham, Swansea, Reading In fantasy land City win all 11 - United need seven wins and a draw (allowing 3 defeats)
Jaryd Govindan
lets see. city splashed cash and united remained calm even when almost everyone were calling for reinforcements in midfield. also before united got taken over im pretty sure we won a hell of alot more trophies than city. is that still lucky? and is it luck that we're still competing for 3 cups? i doubt it
johnnydee23
Lucky? What for twenty years ? When you get sacked in the summer I suppose that'll be unlucky too!
Name witheld
3:19pm on 24/2/2013
This comment has been removed for violations of our Terms and Conditions.
Lorgar Aurelian
3:46pm on 24/2/2013
You sound like you're about 12... can just see you tapping away on your keyboard in your bedroom, with your Utd curtains drawn, sat on your Utd quilt with a hot Bovril in your Utd mug... i know Daz, long distance relationships can be hard...
Name witheld
4:42pm on 24/2/2013
This comment has been removed for violations of our Terms and Conditions.
Rob Shaw
9:06am on 25/2/2013
A bit hypacitical to call them jealous when you just said they were lucky to win the title last year
Jaryd Govindan
12:44pm on 25/2/2013
lets see lorgar, since ferguson came united only got "owners" when the glazier family took over. im pretty sure sure united had alot of success before their arrival. As for city, u get a qatari owner buying players for the sake of it and eventually buy an entire team of players and start winning 3 whole trophies in 3 years. heres some news for u buddy. we're in line to win 3 trophies in 1 season imagine that. we may not win all of them but im sure we will win atleast 1. so dont be a sore loser of a city fan. i bet that if ul don't win anything most of the city fans will be calling for him to be sacked. which would be wrong cos he's a good manager but thats the difference between united and city.