SALFORD RED
13-04-2008, 02:46 AM
SAF is unhappy with the scheduling
of the fixtures over the
final weeks of the season.
Chelsea play Everton four days after Wigan
- and Blues boss Avram Grant has
already expressed his displeasure.
But Ferguson countered:
"They've got a good rest for Monday
and then three days later they've got
Everton away and then
they've got a five-day break
before they play Liverpool
(in the Champions League).
"Then they've got a four-day break before they play us
in the league game. Our schedule is a bit more congested."
United play Barcelona twice and Chelsea in the space of seven days.
Sir Alex Ferguson also believes injury setbacks have
damaged Arsenal's title bid, with the London club
having won just one of their last seven Premier League fixtures.
"Arsenal have had injuries," said Ferguson.
"You can't win games consistently without your best team.
"You just can't do it, not at the level we're at.
You can't get the best results without your best players.
"I think it is Arsenal's injuries in the second half of the
season that has made it difficult to rest players."
Should United beat the Gunners on Sunday they will
move nine points clear of Wenger's men and all but
ensure Arsenal's season, which began so promisingly, ends trophyless.
Arsenal's dreams of lifting the European Cup were dashed
on Tuesday when they were knocked out of the
Champions League by Liverpool in a thrilling European encounter.
United defeated Roma to seal a place in the last
four of the Champions League - but in their previous
Premier League fixture they drew 2-2 at Middlesbrough,
dropping two points.
"It's hard to recover from these things,"
said Ferguson of Arsenal's defeat to Liverpool.
"If we beat them, it makes it difficult for them,
no question. It's difficult anyway because they're
six points behind us and three points behind Chelsea.
"With five games to go there's not a lot of leeway
and they can't afford to drop anything really.
"But we have got to look at ourselves
and make sure we keep motoring.
"Every game is a must-win now.
We dropped two points last week and we need to win our games,
it's as simple as that."
.
of the fixtures over the
final weeks of the season.
Chelsea play Everton four days after Wigan
- and Blues boss Avram Grant has
already expressed his displeasure.
But Ferguson countered:
"They've got a good rest for Monday
and then three days later they've got
Everton away and then
they've got a five-day break
before they play Liverpool
(in the Champions League).
"Then they've got a four-day break before they play us
in the league game. Our schedule is a bit more congested."
United play Barcelona twice and Chelsea in the space of seven days.
Sir Alex Ferguson also believes injury setbacks have
damaged Arsenal's title bid, with the London club
having won just one of their last seven Premier League fixtures.
"Arsenal have had injuries," said Ferguson.
"You can't win games consistently without your best team.
"You just can't do it, not at the level we're at.
You can't get the best results without your best players.
"I think it is Arsenal's injuries in the second half of the
season that has made it difficult to rest players."
Should United beat the Gunners on Sunday they will
move nine points clear of Wenger's men and all but
ensure Arsenal's season, which began so promisingly, ends trophyless.
Arsenal's dreams of lifting the European Cup were dashed
on Tuesday when they were knocked out of the
Champions League by Liverpool in a thrilling European encounter.
United defeated Roma to seal a place in the last
four of the Champions League - but in their previous
Premier League fixture they drew 2-2 at Middlesbrough,
dropping two points.
"It's hard to recover from these things,"
said Ferguson of Arsenal's defeat to Liverpool.
"If we beat them, it makes it difficult for them,
no question. It's difficult anyway because they're
six points behind us and three points behind Chelsea.
"With five games to go there's not a lot of leeway
and they can't afford to drop anything really.
"But we have got to look at ourselves
and make sure we keep motoring.
"Every game is a must-win now.
We dropped two points last week and we need to win our games,
it's as simple as that."
.