The Hindu : Sport / Football : Win will help Man U steer clear

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Win will help Man U steer clear

Chelsea needs a victory to draw level and stay in the hunt

LONDON: Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson could be forgiven for downplaying expectations ahead of Saturday’s Premier League match at Chelsea.

United can effectively clinch its 10th title in 15 years if it wins at Stamford Bridge, but Chelsea has not lost at home in the league in 80 games over the past four years. And the Blues know victory is essential if they are to keep alive their chances of topping the standings at the end of the season.

Add to that the fact that United only played at FC Barcelona in the Champions League semifinals on Wednesday, a day after Chelsea had a far less taxing trip to English rival Liverpool, and Ferguson has good reason to calm down fans hoping for a win.

Advantage Chelsea

“What we have had to do is get the players recovered from Barcelona,” Ferguson said on Friday. “We’ve had the disadvantage of a day’s less rest than Chelsea and then there is the travelling of course.

“We will do our best.”

The best would be a victory to push United six points clear with two matches to play. Given that United’s goal difference is far superior to Chelsea’s, only two heavy losses for the Red Devils and two similarly large wins for the Blues could then alter the destination of the title.

United has not lost by more than a single goal in the Premier League for two years — a run of 75 matches.

But while it has taken an impressive 13 points from a possible 15 against its top four rivals of Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool this season, United has just two wins in its last 13 meetings with Chelsea.

Although it won 2-0 in September in Avram Grant’s first game as Chelsea manager, United’s last victory at Stamford Bridge was back in April 2002. And worryingly for United, Chelsea has made a habit of winning this season without playing well.

Speculation has surrounded Grant’s position because of his failure to coax entertaining soccer from his expensively assembled squad, but his team is still just three points behind United and in a strong position in the Champions League following its 1-1 draw at Liverpool.

Chelsea was outplayed by Liverpool but goalkeeper Petr Cech made several saves and the Blues equalised in injury time through an own-goal.

The result could end up lifting the team against United and in Wednesday’s second leg against Liverpool.

But while United should be strengthened by return from illness of central defender Nemanja Vidic, Chelsea will have to cope without key midfielder Frank Lampard, who has taken compassionate leave following the death of his mother on Thursday.

Ferguson stated that his aim when taking charge of United 22 years ago was to knock Liverpool from the pinnacle of English soccer. He managed that long ago, and ending English soccer’s longest ever unbeaten home record would help reinforce that.

The title this season would move United to 17 overall — just one short of Liverpool’s record 18. — AP

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