Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has mocked rivals Manchester City over their crisis Christmas week.

Roberto Mancini reiterated his belief before his first game in charge of City, at home to Stoke City this afternoon, that the club will finish fourth this season and win the Barclays Premier League next term, but Ferguson suggested that his rival's desire to "upstage" United stems from an inferiority complex.

"It's a difficult job being in a city with Manchester United and the success they've had over the years and, therefore, there is always a moment where they think they can upstage us or something and I think them getting Carlos Tévez was one of those moments," said Ferguson, whose team play Hull City at the KC Stadium tomorrow.

"They felt they'd upstaged us because they had stolen one of our players from us. He's not the only player who's gone from United to Manchester City over the years, there are plenty of players."