In the nearly five months since his new contract, Mancini seems to have been trying very hard to destroy his own credibility, and City's chances of building on last season's triumph. A series of baffling transfer and team selection decisions have contributed to City's stuttering start to the Premier League, and now - after a 1-1 draw against Borussia Dortmund - being in danger of exiting the Champions League at the group stage for the second successive year.

Derbies are emotive occasions at the best of times. Rational thought is obscured by a mélange of nerves, tension and anxiety. A concoction of fear and hope intertwine amongst bursts of dread. It's certainly not enjoyable but this one supersedes any other. It is the Manchester derby. And the Premier League title is on the line.