head across town as the

MANCHESTER, England -- As statements of intent go, it couldnt have been much bigger. "If we only consider this season," Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini said, "there is just one club in Manchester -- and its ours." That comment -- an eye-catching one from a coach usually so reserved in front of the media -- was made last month ahead of a Champions League game against Barcelona. To some, it was a mere statement of fact, with City 12 points ahead of United in the Premier League at the time and still in contention for trophies on four fronts. To others, it was unnecessary goading. And it no doubt will have hit a nerve over at Old Trafford, at a club that is the reigning English champion and had ruled football in the city for the past three decades. For that reason, United may take even more pleasure than usual if it can beat City in Tuesdays Manchester derby at Old Trafford. "Well, Manchester United had lots and lots of seasons of domination," Moyes said Monday, when asked about Pellegrinis comment. "I dont think if I was a manager I would have turned round and necessarily said that we were the only club in Manchester because football does change, it goes in cycles." "I think its important for us to show the level weve got," Moyes added, "and that were not as far away as many people would have us." For the first time in a generation, City will head across town as the favourite to beat its fiercest rival at Old Trafford. United is down in seventh place in the standings after a turbulent first season under Moyes and City, to many, is the team most likely to be raising the Premier League trophy on May 11. Pellegrinis side is six points behind first-place Chelsea with three games in hand. If it wins its remaining 11 games, City cannot be stopped. "We always expect to go and win," said a confident Pellegrini, whose first Manchester derby ended in a 4-1 victory for his side in September. "Its not just because Manchester United has had a difficult season (that) we are going to go there and win." That derby defeat was Uniteds first crushing loss under Moyes this season -- and a few more have followed over the next six months. But what a difference a week has made for the United manager. He woke last Monday to scathing headlines after an embarrassing 3-0 home loss to Liverpool, with suggestions abound that his time could be up if United was eliminated from the Champions League. Seven days later and bolstered by two victories in a four-day span that kept the team in Europe and got it back on track in the league, Moyes was clicking his fingers as he walked cheerily through the clubs training complex and sitting a little comfier in his chair at the pre-match news conference. Its been that kind of season for Alex Fergusons replacement -- a massive low one week followed by a big high the next. Theres been no consistency and of the many alarming statistics to blight Moyes short reign, one perhaps stands out -- United has just one win this campaign against a team in the current top nine. "We want to try to perform better in the bigger games than weve done, Ive got no doubt about that," said Moyes, whose team is 18 points behind Chelsea. "Ive got no doubt it will improve, and I want us to show were still in there fighting." Cheap Saucony Shoes China .The 24-year-old quarterback spent four seasons at Northern Illinois and in 2013 was a finalist for the Heisman, which is awarded annually to the most outstanding player in U. Saucony Outlet Store . Numbers Game looks into the Canadiens securing the services of Thomas Vanek in a trade with the New York Islanders. The Canadiens Get: LW Thomas Vanek and a conditional fifth-round pick. http://www.cheapsaucony.net/ . -- Terrelle Pryor took the opening snap of the game, put the ball in Darren McFaddens belly and saw LaMarr Woodley crash down. Cheap Saucony Shoes Online . We wonder if the price of a Roberts rookie card has at least gone up a few cents? Tribute Tweets #Padres Tony Gwynn had 287 career plate appearances against #Braves trio of Maddux, Glavine, & Smoltz, he hit . Wholesale Saucony Shoes . Ghoulam has put pen to paper on a four and a half year deal, tying him to Napoli until 2018. The 22-year-old Algeria international, who played for France at Under 21 level, has made 87 league appearances in four seasons at Saint-Etienne.ST. CLOUD, Fla. -- Darryl Strawberry will always be tied to his former baseball exploits. Hes now trying to help others avoid the pitfalls that plagued his career with opening of his second drug rehab facility in two years. Strawberry and his wife Tracy -- both ordained ministers -- were in central Florida Friday for the opening of their second drug rehabilitation and treatment centre. The Darryl Strawberry Recovery Center will be focused on helping former athletes and others deal with the issues that once followed them both, as well as the new ones -- like concussions -- that face todays generation of athletes. "I think the legacy we all want to leave is a positive one," said Strawberry, whos been clean more than a decade. "Baseball dont leave you a positive legacy. Thats just a game and that comes and goes. But I think the most important thing is for people to see theyre not a mistake." The new centre joins one already open in Texas, and the couple plans to open a third facility close to where they reside in St. Louis later this year. It offers a 28-day residential treatment program that can treat up to 60 patients at a time for addiction and substance abuse. It also has a program to help athletes address post-playing issues, as well as anyone suffering long-term effects concussions and traumatic brain injury. During Strawberrys journey to sobriety he was once told by a treating doctor that he would never make it out of his addiction. He said he wants these new facilities to be a place where patients never hear anything similar. "Drug addiction is an illness and those that dont know that have a tendency to criticize and point fingers. I was one guy they pointed fingers at and said This guy is a cocaine freak, you know?" he said. "They didnt know the depths of it. Today is a sign to show you that this is about recovery." Tracy Strawberry meet Darryl nearly 15 years ago at a narcotics rehab convention in Tampa.dddddddddddd Both twice divorced, they began dating while both continued to fight their addictions. Getting past their various hurdles they eventually moved to Missouri, and they were married in 2006. Not long after that they started their non-denominational ministry, which Tracy said is the core of the curriculum she helped write for the clinic. But she said it doesnt jam the religious component down patients throats. "You cant be so supernatural that youre not natural," she said. Dr. William Leach, a board certified addiction specialist, is the medical director of the new facility. He said a facility such as this is in a position to approach addiction in ways not previously done at this level. "In 55 years of brain research, we finally figured out that addiction is a biologically-mediated structural brain disease," Leach said. "And we finally figured out to create medicines at least at the start that are going to help with that." Strawberry was joined Friday by several former athletes from the MLB and NFL, including Pro Football Hall of Famer Jack Youngblood. Youngblood is on the NFL Players Association concussion committee, and was there specifically to continue to raise awareness about concussion treatment. Youngblood said the potential impact the facility could have is enormous. "Weve been looking concussion issues for the past four or five years and we finally found somebody to partner with," he said. "Once you open the door I believe youre gonna be flooded with those who are suffering from those issues." Strawberry said hes only just beginning his journey to help others. "My own path is experience, and you never give up on a person," Strawberry said. "You never know who will make it with the chance and opportunity." ' ' '