Manchester United still believe they are the biggest club in the world despite being dominated in their own city.
That’s according to Red Devils boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who is tasked with redressing the balance which has shifted in favour of Manchester City in recent years.
United have fallen way behind their neighbours since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson, under whom the red half of Manchester was always the dominant force.
But ahead of the Carabao Cup semi-final between the two rivals – LIVE on talkSPORT – Solskjaer insists the Red Devils will return to their former glory.
“It is a different time. When the owners came in at City you knew they were going to go for it,” he said.
“I’m never surprised by anything in football and with what they have done they deserve to be where they are.
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“We are still in our own heads the biggest club in the world so of course we want to get back to where we were. It’s going to take time.
“You have to go for it at this club, that’s what we are here for, to take on the challenges that are given to us.
“We are Man United. We have been up and we’ve been down but we’ve always come back.”
City manager Pep Guardiola has been credited with changing the way English football is played through his inspirational methods at Man City, but Solskjaer insists the Spaniard will never trump Sir Alex’s influence on the game.
“He has had a big influence and since he took over at Barcelona I have admired Pep’s teams but I’ve worked under the most influential [Ferguson],” added Solskjaer.
“But for me it is great, you do see one of the best managers ever and you can see where he has taken his wisdom from.
“I had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with Johan [Cruyff] back in the day when [his son] Jordi was here and we were friends and you can see similarities.”
