They had a real superiority complex when it came to City back then, and they just couldn't conceive that they could ever be anything other than the top dog. However, it's still not been entirely eradicated.
Along with various cheerleading clowns in the media, they still can't help getting ridiculously ahead of themselves whenever they have a short burst of success. I recall their reaction in mid-January, when they beat us at their place with the aid of a travesty of a decision, and they couldn't help but crow about how they were back. Remember all that talk about the quadruple and about how they'd finally finish above us again.
After that round of fixtures,
they were one point behind us in the league, having played the same number of games. Now, a further 15 matches on, the gap is 16 points. Their goal difference has changed by +1 in this period and ours by +29. But the thing is, any sensible observer could see the subsequent turn of events as entirely likely.
They have a huge weakness with this mentality that they're Manchester United, so are bigger and thus naturally better than anyone else. Long may it last, as it's a huge handicap for them and so many of them, including people with influence within and around the club, can't see it.