With City denying United a 20th league title by claiming their third domestic championship on Sunday, talk of a shift in the balance of power in Manchester has accelerated.
Sir Bobby Charlton has added his voice to the verbal spats between Manchester United and Manchester City by insisting the Old Trafford club do not have "anything to worry about" from their neighbours.
With City denying United a 20th league title by claiming their third domestic championship on Sunday, talk of a shift in the balance of power in Manchester has accelerated.
City's rise has led to an increase in tension between the clubs, with United manager Sir Alex Ferguson claiming on Monday that the newly-crowned champions will spend "stupid" money this summer.
But despite the immense wealth of City owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al Nahyan, United legend Charlton insists he has no fears over his club's ability to compete with their city rivals: "I don't think for a moment that we have anything to worry about with regard to City. City don't interest me very much. To have won 19 championships is an unbelievable record. They are just thinking about that. We have the tools and we have the desire and, with that desire, we can do anything as we have already proved.
"One thing about this club is that everyone loves the place and everyone works their socks off to make sure we are successful. It is not just the players, it is the whole club.
"We have the greatest manager that the world has ever seen with Alex Ferguson and with the squad we have at the moment we are capable of doing anything. It is a little blip and, at the end of the day, we will survive and we will continue because we have the tools and the right people in the right places."
Despite his bullish talk of United's ability to bounce back Charlton admits the club face a long summer: "What I was feeling after the match on Sunday was that 'maybe you will feel a bit different in a few weeks'. I won't feel different in a few weeks - it will be next season. There will be a lot of pressure put on the lads to do the best they can but they have always done that and we will survive."
Meanwhile, United captain Patrice Evra claims that Ferguson's team are capable of overhauling City next season: "We received a lot of criticism this season but we have got nine points better than last season. City played their best football and we didn't always play our best, but we still finished on the same points.
"So it makes you think that if we play our best football consistently throughout the season, then we are going to win the league by many points.
"Of course this is my mentality - that we will bounce back and win it next season. It was just the last 30 seconds that made City champions. I always say when a team are champions they deserve it, but I can say to myself that we gave the title to City. That's why I'm confident that we will win it back next year."
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