Leeds United manager Neil Warnock has claimed that Manchester City "haven't got a chance" of retaining their Premier League title this season.
Roberto Mancini's side are currently 12 points behind the leaders Manchester United, and Warnock, whose Leeds side travel to City in the FA Cup on Sunday, believes that United already have the title as good as won.
"They haven't got a chance of retaining the title because they have come across the maestro that is Sir Alex Ferguson," Warnock is quoted as saying in The Mirror.
"[Ferguson] is a wily old fox who won't have taken kindly to City being crowned champions last time around.
"He will have set his stall out to make sure United finish in top spot this season and there is a lesson to be learned there for Roberto.
"It is, quite simply, if you ruffle Sir Alex's feathers, you do so at your peril."
The winner of Sunday's clash will go into the draw for the FA Cup quarter-finals.
Paul Gorst
