Football: Ferguson expects City showdown to decide title race

United manager pleased after 3-1 win at Tottenham.

LONDON:

Sir Alex Ferguson believes the destiny of the Premier League title race will be decided by the outcome of Manchester United’s trip to face current leaders Manchester City at Eastlands on April 30.

United manager Ferguson is convinced his side took a major step toward retaining the English crown with the hard-fought 3-1 victory at Tottenham.

The champions were out-played for long periods but capitalised on two defensive errors by Spurs before Ashley Young capped victory with his second goal of the game.

Ferguson admitted his side rode their luck, but believes the form shown by United since the turn of the year confirms they are stepping up the pressure on City, who currently sit two points clear at the head of the table.

“We have had all the big teams since January including City and Liverpool in the FA Cup,” said Ferguson. “We have come through that and credit to the players. They have played well in most of the games. It was a bit disappointing but the one thing we did do was show the determination to get the result.

“But Tottenham are a very good side and this is only their second defeat at home since the start of the season. Every game they play 58 per cent possession. It was a massive result and a massive performance by our defenders.”

United face City at the end of April for their third last league game and Ferguson said, “I think it will be [the title decider].”

Wayne Rooney put United ahead against the run of play just before half-time before Young struck in the 60th and 69th minutes to wrap up the points.

Jermain Defoe produced an 87th minute reply but it was too late to affect the outcome.

Chelsea criticised for Villas-Boas sacking

Meanwhile, the chief executive of the League Managers’ Association criticised Chelsea for sacking Andre Villas-Boas, warning that the London club is becoming an ‘embarrassment’ to the Premier League.

Richard Bevan said that Chelsea’s billionaire owner Roman Ambramovich may have money behind him but he had not yet discovered the secret of building a successful football club.

Villas-Boas was sacked on Sunday, a day after his side suffered a 1-0 defeat to West Bromwich Albion. The loss was the latest in a string of league defeats that has left Chelsea off the pace in the race for a Champion’s League spot next season.

“Looking for what is an eighth manager in nine years is a serious embarrassment to the owner, the club, the fans and the league,” Bevan told BBC radio.

The 34-year-old has been replaced by Roberto Di Matteo, who now has the job of preparing his players for an FA Cup fifth-round replay against Birmingham and a last-16 Champions League return leg against Napoli, in which they are trailing 3-1.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 6^th, 2012.