Dubai: The UAE's Manchester City fans are confident Roberto Mancini's men will clinch the Premier League title today.
A first league crown in 44 years for the Citizens depends on the outcome of their match at home to Queens Park Rangers and Manchester United's game away to Sunderland today, with the Mancunian rivals heading into the last day of the season level locked together 86 points.
But City's superior goal difference means United need their bitter rivals to do worse than them to deprive the Etihad outfit of the title.
The founder of Abu Dhabi's Manchester City supporters' club, Darren Ball, will be spending the day with his wife Gaynor, who just happens to support United. Adding another layer of significance to the big day is that it is also their 17th wedding anniversary.
Supporter
Ball, who is holding a barbecue at his house for City supporters and ‘some token United fans', said: "The house is divided — there will be all sorts of emotions going on.
"It's the biggest game in our history and will become the greatest day if we win. A win would pave the way for a decade of domination.
"We're confident. City have the best home form in the league and QPR have the worst away record in the league. So in theory it should be a convincing win for us, perhaps by 4-0.
"I always felt things were in our favour even after we lost at Arsenal. United slipped up at Wigan meaning we had to win the derby, which we did convincingly even though it was 1-0. We dominated at Newcastle and head into the QPR game nervous but confident. It's not over until it's mathematically impossible for United, but my personal opinion is that we have it in the bag.
"Even if QPR park the bus and put 11 men behind the ball, we're still good enough on paper to break them down."
Mark Lynch, of Dubai's City supporters' club, said: "We're nervous, but at the same time fairly confident. You just never know what can happen. We're unbeaten at home and I'd very much like to keep it that way. But QPR need a point to stay up, so it will be tough, and then there's the Mark Hughes factor — City's ex-coach now manager of Rangers.
"I'm fired up, but I'll be a bag of nerves watching it. It's a must-win game like the last two games, but we can afford to be just a little less nervous than we have been."
