Roberto Mancini insisted Manchester City had not overtaken Manchester United as the Premier League's major power - despite thrashing the champions 6-1 at Old Trafford on Sunday.
City extended their lead at the top of the table to five points as United set some unhappy statistics and left boss Sir Alex Ferguson confessing to being "shattered" by the scale of the defeat.
The margin of defeat was United's worst at home since 1955 and the first time they had conceded six at Old Trafford since 1930 as City ran riot, with Mario Balotelli and Edin Dzeko scoring twice and Sergio Aguero and David Silva completing the rout.
But Mancini said: "United are still one yard above us and we can only change this if we win the title. After that it might be different but until then United are better than us."
He added: "I still have big respect for United and for their squad. There are still four or five teams who can win the title and the season is long."
Mancini also insisted that Balotelli, in the headlines after a firework went off inside his house on Saturday morning, can become one of the top three players in the world.
The 21-year-old Italian scored twice but was booked by referee Mark Clattenburg for displaying a T-shirt bearing the slogan "Why Always Me?" after his opening goal.
Mancini said: "I hope for him, and for football in general, that the day will arrive when Mario changes his mind completely because after this he will become one of the best three players in the world like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
"The supporters like Mario because he is crazy. I love him as a guy. I don't know what has happened [over the fireworks]. The only important thing is that Mario and his friend were OK.
"I think Mario played very well. If we want to talk about Mario as a football player, I think we can put him in the first five players in the world. The problem is that he is young and can make mistakes."
Mancini also explained a positive tactical approach that saw Aguero,
City extended their lead at the top of the table to five points as United set some unhappy statistics and left boss Sir Alex Ferguson confessing to being "shattered" by the scale of the defeat.
The margin of defeat was United's worst at home since 1955 and the first time they had conceded six at Old Trafford since 1930 as City ran riot, with Mario Balotelli and Edin Dzeko scoring twice and Sergio Aguero and David Silva completing the rout.
But Mancini said: "United are still one yard above us and we can only change this if we win the title. After that it might be different but until then United are better than us."
He added: "I still have big respect for United and for their squad. There are still four or five teams who can win the title and the season is long."
Mancini also insisted that Balotelli, in the headlines after a firework went off inside his house on Saturday morning, can become one of the top three players in the world.
The 21-year-old Italian scored twice but was booked by referee Mark Clattenburg for displaying a T-shirt bearing the slogan "Why Always Me?" after his opening goal.
Mancini said: "I hope for him, and for football in general, that the day will arrive when Mario changes his mind completely because after this he will become one of the best three players in the world like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
"The supporters like Mario because he is crazy. I love him as a guy. I don't know what has happened [over the fireworks]. The only important thing is that Mario and his friend were OK.
"I think Mario played very well. If we want to talk about Mario as a football player, I think we can put him in the first five players in the world. The problem is that he is young and can make mistakes."
Mancini also explained a positive tactical approach that saw Aguero,
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