Pep Guardiola has given Manchester United hope of a revival under new minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe by saying Manchester City's era of dominance will not last forever.
United have not won the Premier League title for more than 10 years, while City, under Guardiola, have lifted the trophy in five of the last six years.
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Ratcliffe has set out his plan to “topple City” within three years and, ahead of the 192nd Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, Guardiola has said it could be possible.
“In the 80s it was Liverpool, in the 90s it was United and now we have won seven Premier Leagues in the last 11 or 12 years,” Guardiola said at a news conference on Friday.
“In 50 or 60 years, there has never been a country where one team dominates and controls everything, but we try to extend this as much as possible for many years.”
United have struggled since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, going through a series of managers including David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, José Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, but winning just four trophies.
Erik ten Hag, who lifted the Carabao Cup last season, is under pressure after a poor campaign and Guardiola said he sympathizes with the challenge facing the Dutchman at Old Trafford.
“I would say that in big clubs you have to win and win,” Guardiola said. “Not just at United, you have to win at the big clubs. It's not easy for United to come from an incredibly successful period with Sir Alex and deal with that, that's not easy. I can understand that sometimes.
“Before in England, they had more patience with the coaches. Today everyone has a lot of pressure. But the diagnosis [of United] Like I said before, I don't know the reason why. [they have not been successful]. I'm not there.”
