Alex Ferguson: United should have been more Italian

REGRETS ... Alex Ferguson

ALEX FERGUSON believes his side would be heading for the title if they had done an Italian job like Roberto Mancini.

The Manchester United boss says if they could shut down a game like rivals City did in last week’s derby showdown, they would still have an advantage.

United crucially let slip 3-1 and 4-2 leads to draw 4-4 at home to Everton.

Referring to the 1-0 loss at the Etihad, Fergie said: “In the end we just ran out of time, as Mancini made changes to give him five at the back. It’s the Italian mentality — and maybe we should sometimes go down that road.

“We could certainly have done with bolting up the game against Everton.

“If we had done just a fraction of what City did, I would probably be saying quite a different thing.”

But Ferguson also claims he is proud of his attacking mentality.

He said: “It is not in our nature to put up the shutters and I like to think that it is our attacking, adventurous approach that has made United famous.

“On balance it’s a policy that has also served us well in terms of trophies.

“But if we lose the league this year there is no doubt the pivotal match was the 4-4 draw.” Despite Ferguson lauding United’s attacking play, City have scored the most league goals this season with 90 to his team’s 88. They have also scored four or more goals EIGHT TIMES.

That includes six in the October derby at Old Trafford — which has contributed to United being eight behind on goal difference to manager Mancini’s City.

Ferguson added: “It wasn’t so much losing, you never win them all, but conceding the rush of goals near the end.

“We are paying for that now with City holding the advantage.”

City face QPR while United travel to Sunderland on the final day.

Ferguson’s only hope is that his old player Mark Hughes can conjure a performance out of his Rangers side.