Sir Alex Ferguson insists he won't be beaten at his own tricks as Roberto Mancini attempts mind games in the race for the Premier League title.
Mancini claimed that his Manchester City side were out of contention even after Wednesday's victory over West Bromwich moved them to within five points of their arch rivals.
City know if they beat Ferguson's United later this month they will have a real chance of securing the crown - despite trailing by eight points earlier this month.
Mancini also claimed that he didn't even know United were playing on the night they suffered a 1-0 defeat at relegation-threatened Wigan.
But Old Trafford boss Ferguson, who is a veteran at mind games from his previous battles for the title, has dismissed any attempts from Mancini to unsettle his side.
He said: 'I think Roberto Mancini has maybe picked the wrong time to say it. There's still five games to go.
'We have to put it in a bit of perspective,' he said. 'You drop points in the second half of the season. We have done it most years. There has been an odd year when we have gone on a long run without losing but a couple of years back we lost 4-1 to Liverpool and won the league.
'You do drop points on the run-in. City and ourselves have both experienced that.
'But from the position we were in a few months ago, to where we are today, we have to be delighted.
'The great part of our club is that we do recover, and we have to recover from Wednesday.
'The Premier League is fascinating but experience will help us. Sunday's game is the one to focus on.'
That's a reference to the match with Aston Villa at Old Trafford, in which Paul Scholes will be returned to the starting line-up after being badly missed against Wigan.
United haven't lost any of the 12 matches Scholes has appeared in this season and Ferguson will happily welcome him back.
He added: 'Paul has shown his influence since he came back but I did the right thing to rest him on Wednesday. He will be fresh on Sunday and he will play.'
Ferguson confirmed his squad had suffered no fresh injuries for the encounter with Villa, another side managed by one of his former players, Alex McLeish.
Along with Blackburn's Steve Kean, Fergie's opposite number on Sunday, McLeisha, has suffered the most intense in-house abuse in the top flight this term.
Yet it seems everyone is open to scrutiny, including Ferguson, whose decision to rest Paul Scholes for Wednesday night's shock defeat at Wigan was condemned by many supporters on United's own TV channel.
'I think so, yes,' said Ferguson, when asked whether the abuse McLeish has received could happen anywhere. 'It is a change in society.
'I spoke some time ago about the picture of the melee on the pitch between United and Leeds and in the background the fans were completely passive. You wouldn't get that today.
'We did the right thing resting Paul on Wednesday. It may not have looked like that to the fans but after playing on Sunday and then having another match three days later, we did the right thing.'
Yet the mild annoyance at one selection issue by a manager who is trying to win his 13th Premier League title is nothing compared to the anger McLeish's presence has provoked amongst some sections of the club's support.
And Ferguson insists if Villa show a bit of patience, they will be rewarded.
'I do have sympathy for Alex,' said the United manager. 'I have known him since he was a little kid.
'When I brought him into the team at Aberdeen, he was always a very receptive, intelligent young man.
'He was a great player, has had a good career as a manager and will do a good job at Villa given time, trust and confidence. We all need a pat on the back at times and Alex has done a remarkable job.'
SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
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