Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola believes Manchester United "will be back" with the help of new investor Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
Ratcliffe's deal to buy a 27.7% stake in Manchester United was completed on 20 February.
The British billionaire says he hopes United can knock cross-city rivals City "off their perch".
Responding to the comments, Guardiola said: "As [soon] as the teams admit it they will be closer to us."
The 53-year-old Catalan added: "If they want to deny it for things that are not the reality then it's their problem - it's not our problem.