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Fergie’s ready for week of destiny
MANCHESTER United embark
on a four-day date with destiny
knowing Sir Alex Ferguson is
convinced they have the strength
to handle the job.
After Wednesday's battling
draw in Barcelona, victory at
Old Trafford on Tuesday will
take United into the Champions
League final for the first time
since the memorable win over
Bayern Munich in 1999, setting
up an all-English meeting with
either Liverpool or Chelsea in
the process.
Before that, the Red Devils
have a chance to sew up a tenth
Premier League title and a 17th
crown overall, just one short of
Liverpool's much-cherished
record.
While mathematically,
Chelsea could lose today and
still win the league, the odds on
them making up a goal difference
which currently stands at
18 in favour of Ferguson's men
are so remote as to be laughable.
Even a draw, with a threepoint
advantage and a better
goal difference, would be almost
enough for United as they head
into the final two games.
But Ferguson knows how
much confidence his side would
gain from sealing the championship
at the home of their closest
challengers. And he is backing
his squad to finish the job.
The incentives are all there
for us over the next few days -
and we have the players and the
squad to do it,'' he said.
It's a massive game, one that
will take care of itself in terms
of focus, we just have to make
sure we are properly rested and
properly prepared.''
By remaining in Barcelona
overnight following their midweek
exertions, Ferguson has
done his best to minimise any
tiredness United's players may
be feeling. And he is confident
his other major concern, his
side's poor passing in the Nou
Camp, will prove to be no more
than a temporary blip.
We have to recover our passing
ability because it was an
area that let us down on Wednesday,''
he said.
It was surprising because
normally we are very good. But
I am sure we will get it back tomorrow.''
While the magnitude of the
contest can hardly be overstated,
Ferguson is eager to stress it
would have been a big game even
without the added element provided
by last weekend's draw at
Blackburn.
When you play any of the top
four, you have to do well so in a
sense it would not have mattered
where we were in the table,'' he
said. Our record against them
is not great but overall, I guess
it balances itself out.''
Although Ferguson rarely got
the better of Jose Mourinho in
their personal duels, other than
that three-year period, he has a
decent return at Stamford
Bridge and also beat Chelsea at
Old Trafford in Avram Grant's
first game in charge.
9:36am Saturday 26th April 2008
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