Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson lit the fuse ahead of the Community Shield clash with Manchester City by warning them that their financial muscle can't guarantee success in the Premier League.
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Initial unconcern and dismissive jibes about dealing with "noisy neighbours" have been replaced by an awareness that Roberto Mancini's expensively assembled team are now a serious threat. "We get this almost every year when clubs round about us buy, and that's how you view the importance of winning the league these days," he said.
Despite attempts to pile pressure on City, the Scot has spent nearly as much as Mancini since the end of last season.
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