I want to damage Manchester United's Premier League bid! City's Nigel de Jong ups the stakes ahead of crunch derby
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Nigel de Jong would relish the opportunity to end Manchester United's Premier League title bid as the City midfielder ups the ante ahead of this weekend's crucial derby.
The two sides come face-to-face on Saturday as City bid to secure Champions League football next season, while United must win to keep their slim title hopes alive.
Up for the battle: de Jong says he would like to 'damage' United's title bid
City are the team in form after winning three on the bounce, racking up 14 goals in the process. United however, have endured a torrid time of late, losing to Chelsea and drawing at Blackburn in the league, and being dumped out of Europe by Bayern Munich, all in the space of a week.
And de Jong would love nothing more than to end United's quest to become the first team to win four back-to-back titles in the top flight of English football.
'It's a derby and there is always more at stake. It would be nice to damage United's title chances,' de Jong said. 'But we have to focus on our own goal. Anything else is extra from our point of view.'
United will be four points adrift of Chelsea by the time they face City on Saturday, should the Blues beat Bolton at Stamford Bridge, while Arsenal could leapfrog Sir Alex Fergsuon's side with three points at Tottenham.
'United need the points to catch Chelsea and they know Arsenal are behind them,' de Jong added.
'They have to secure their place in the top two. We need those points, even though Liverpool drew.'
The Blues also want revenge for the injury-time 4-3 league defeat at Old Trafford and the late Wayne Rooney goal which knocked them out of the Carling Cup in January. 'This time we will go right to the end - I promise!' De Jong added.
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