This was the special one! Alex Ferguson: 3-2 win at Man City is Utd’s greatest derby

ROB JOY ... United snatch victory through Robin Van Persie's last-gasp free-kick

“I’m really delighted it went in. When they count the points up at the end of the season I hope it’s significant. Derby games are significant if you win them, there is no question about that, but I hope it’s really significant by the end of the season.”

United should have been 3-0 up and out of sight but had a perfectly good goal from Ashley Young ruled out for offside before City came back.

Ferguson said: “That is the kind of game football is, it can kill you and kick you in the teeth that way.

“Then they scored the second and at the time they deserved that, they were fighting like hell with their three strikers. But before that I thought we were far better than them.

“They have this great record of scoring late goals and at that stage you would take the draw but Van Persie has decided it.”

Rooney’s double made him United’s greatest derby goalscorer, edging past Bobby Charlton to 10 goals.

Ferguson joked: “He’ll let us know about it, that’s for sure.”

Rooney was understandably buzzing about his goals and the victory as United got revenge for their double derby defeats at the hands of City last season.

Rooney said: “It’s a great day for us to win here, they’ve had a great home record and to spoil that is a great feeling.

“It was crazy — it’s been like that all season.

“To lose a two-goal lead. We were hanging on at the end and they had a couple of chances. A bit of magic got us the three points.

“There is desire and passion at the club and under Sir Alex we never know we’re beaten.

“It’s no fluke how many games we’ve won late-on.You’ve got to keep on pushing.”

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