Ferguson: Rooney loss not big help to Chelsea

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson waves to the crowd before the Champions League group B soccer match against Wolfsburg at Old Trafford Stadium, Manchester, England, Wednesday Sept. 30, 2009. (AP Photo/Jon Super) NICAID:111123798

Manchester United is confident the absence of the injured Wayne Rooney won’t ruin its chances of beating second place Chelsea on Saturday and taking another big step toward winning the English Premier League title for an unprecedented fourth time in a row.

Although 34-goal Rooney is sidelined with the ankle injury he picked up in Tuesday’s 2-1 Champions League quarterfinal loss to Bayern Munich, manager Alex Ferguson said he was able to revert to the strikeforce that beat Bolton 4-0 without Rooney a week ago.

Dimitar Berbatov scored twice in that game and is expected to lead the attack when Chelsea goes to Old Trafford hoping to replace United at the top of the standings.