The Blues boss believes his team are better equipped than ever to cope with the derby pressure and maintain their exciting chase for the title throughout the winter.
Mancini told a packed Press conference today: “We don’t have any problems or pressure, we have 25 good players and no injuries.
“The derby is usually different from other games but in this case it is very different, because for the first time in a long time we can go there on top.
“We know that it will be a very hard game because United at home are incredible. It’s important that we are ready to play a good game and defend very well, because they have fantastic strikers.
Both teams have good strikers, we can score and they can score. But the game can finish 0-0
“If we leave Old Trafford with a draw that is good for us, but that is not our mentality, and it’s the same for United. Like us, they always want to win every game.
“If we win it will be important but I don’t think it will change anything because the season is long. I’m happy that our supporters are happy, but to stay up there you have to work very hard.”
Mancini’s animated touchline celebration at Sergio Aguero’s last-ditch winner in the Champions League tie against Villarreal on Tuesday night made global news.
He smiled: “When we score in the last minute that is perfect! If we had drawn it would have made things very difficult. I was happy for Sergio that he scored.
“United have this mentality, they are still trying to win in the last second. We wanted to win and tried right to the end. Milner and Zabaleta were fantastic for that goal.”
