Manchester United hero Ryan Giggs says it will take a lifetime for Manchester City to ever match their sustained success.

Giggs saw action in yesterday's derby win at Eastlands and said: "It's been interesting at City with the takeover. But you can't just spend millions buying big players in and expect instant success.

"You have to create a good team spirit and bring in the right players then hope that they all blend. We have got that stability now but it doesn't happen overnight - it takes years.

"And for other teams to get that, takes a long time and even longer to break into the top four and stay there. United have a status and history that has taken years to build up.

"It stretches back to the Busby Babes, to players like Sir Bobby Charlton and George Best. It will be very interesting to see what happens at City, but what we have at United is very special.

"You see that when we go abroad in pre-season and then you really appreciate how popular United are.

"We have fans in India, China, South America - everywhere.

And that popularity is a result of our history. Money can't necessarily get you that."