United led three times but were pinned back each occasion by City before Owen arrived to deliver a stunning finish to what the United manager believes was 'one of the best derby games of all time'.
Ferguson said: 'I just felt the game was going to be in their box in the last 20 minutes, you could just sense that, and there is no one better than Michael Owen.
'To be fair to him we have noticed in the last two weeks he has adjusted to the training, he has become sharper, his focus is really good in terms of the intensity of the training and he has got better and better.'
Rooney gave United the lead in the second minute before Ben Foster’s mistake allowed Gareth Barry to equalise.
Darren Fletcher twice headed United back into the lead but his goals were cancelled out by Craig Bellamy’s stunning strike from 25-yards and the Welshman’s cool finish after Rio Ferdinand had gifted him the ball.
Ferguson refused to blame Ferdinand for his mistake but admitted his side’s defensive lapses could have caused embarrassment.
'I'm sure he is relieved. We did make terrible mistakes for their three goals but you cannot just blame Rio, it's a collective thing at this club,' he said.
'It could have been an embarrassment - it could have been 6-0 or 7-0 if we had defended our proper way, our normal way, we could have won by a big score.
'But making mistakes was an essence of the game it became the best derby game of all time. So what do you choose? One of the best derby games of all time or win 6-0?'
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