Sparx
02-02-2007, 12:19 PM
Sir Alex Ferguson has set the clock ticking on Manchester United's championship countdown by claiming that his team require 11 victories from their final 13 league games of the season to claim the club's ninth Premiership title.
The United manager, who once memorably billed the tension and unpredictability of the title run-in as "squeaky bum-time," has traditionally viewed the Easter period as the critical stage of the season.
Yet despite United holding a six-point lead over champions Chelsea, Ferguson believes the race for the title is now so intense that his players must deliver at least 36 points from a possible 42 between now and the end of the season.
While the demanding trips to Liverpool and Chelsea are the most likely to result in dropped points, United must also visit Portsmouth and Manchester City, who have held the upper hand over them on home territory in recent campaigns.
Ferguson said: "We have thrown away two games against Arsenal this season, but we are still in a strong position and the league starts now because we have 14 games to play and we have a six-point lead. We don't have to play Arsenal again, so the only two major games we have against the top four are against Chelsea and Liverpool.
"The other three still have to play each other anyway, and Chelsea at Arsenal won't be easy. So if we win 11 games, we think we will win the league. But you have to be careful with every game, and I'm echoing what I said after the Arsenal game – there are no more warnings now. It is down to the pure nitty-gritty, and the only way we're going to do it is by saying 'this game is going to be won' and then we can move onto the next one."
Bottom club Watford, without an away win in the Premiership all season, would appear to be the perfect opponents. However, Sunderland arrived at Old Trafford in a similar position last season and held United to a 0-0 draw that all but ended the home side's aspirations of prising the title from Chelsea's grasp. This however was not to be as United proceeded to thrash Watford 4-0 and so better Chelsea's 3-0 drubbing of Blackburn to up the goal difference again.
Ferguson is determined that his players avoid a similar experience tonight. "We need to keep our foot on the pedal, go for it, and see if we can get the three points," he said.
The United manager, who once memorably billed the tension and unpredictability of the title run-in as "squeaky bum-time," has traditionally viewed the Easter period as the critical stage of the season.
Yet despite United holding a six-point lead over champions Chelsea, Ferguson believes the race for the title is now so intense that his players must deliver at least 36 points from a possible 42 between now and the end of the season.
While the demanding trips to Liverpool and Chelsea are the most likely to result in dropped points, United must also visit Portsmouth and Manchester City, who have held the upper hand over them on home territory in recent campaigns.
Ferguson said: "We have thrown away two games against Arsenal this season, but we are still in a strong position and the league starts now because we have 14 games to play and we have a six-point lead. We don't have to play Arsenal again, so the only two major games we have against the top four are against Chelsea and Liverpool.
"The other three still have to play each other anyway, and Chelsea at Arsenal won't be easy. So if we win 11 games, we think we will win the league. But you have to be careful with every game, and I'm echoing what I said after the Arsenal game – there are no more warnings now. It is down to the pure nitty-gritty, and the only way we're going to do it is by saying 'this game is going to be won' and then we can move onto the next one."
Bottom club Watford, without an away win in the Premiership all season, would appear to be the perfect opponents. However, Sunderland arrived at Old Trafford in a similar position last season and held United to a 0-0 draw that all but ended the home side's aspirations of prising the title from Chelsea's grasp. This however was not to be as United proceeded to thrash Watford 4-0 and so better Chelsea's 3-0 drubbing of Blackburn to up the goal difference again.
Ferguson is determined that his players avoid a similar experience tonight. "We need to keep our foot on the pedal, go for it, and see if we can get the three points," he said.