Football: Home comfort can clinch title, says Ferguson

Manhcester United confident despite 1-0 loss at Wigan.

WIGAN:

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes his team’s home form will be key in deciding whether they can secure a 20th title.

United lost ground in the title race on Wednesday with a 1-0 defeat at Wigan and Manchester City’s 4-0 win over West Bromwich Albion seeing their lead cut to five points. The champions’ lead could be reduced to two points when City travel to Norwich tomorrow, 24 hours before United entertain Aston Villa.

After seeing his team’s eight-match winning run ended at the DW Stadium, Ferguson thinks those home dates will be key in closing out the title.

“It’s been a great run and put us in a position where we can win the league,” said Ferguson.

“We were well behind City a couple of months ago, they were ahead on goal difference and points. So we have to take some credit for getting back in the race.

Shaun Maloney scored the only goal at the DW Stadium, curling in from the edge of the area just after half-time to give Wigan their first-ever points against United at the 14th attempt.

City can’t win league: Mancini

Roberto Mancini, the Manchester City manager, insisted his team cannot win the Premier League title because of Manchester United’s superior team spirit.

In a bizarre post-match press conference, following City’s win, Mancini refused to accept his club can overhaul the defending champions.

“United is a fantastic team and I don’t think they can lose five points,” said Mancini. “For us it’s important we finish this season well. For us, it has been the best season since 1968, for us that’s important. Now I think it’s too late. It’s not mind games.

“United have a fantastic spirit, we don’t have the same spirit. For this reason, it’s very difficult.”

Mancini challenged his side to complete home and away victories over United when the two Manchester rivals collide at Eastlands on April 30.

“For us it’s also important to beat United here so we have beaten them two times this season. The guys will do their best because we are professional. We had a good season, we want to finish well.”

Wenger hails Robin reliant

Arsene Wenger paid tribute to Robin van Persie after the Arsenal striker equalled Ian Wright’s Premier League record for scoring against the most teams in a 38-game season.

Van Persie’s early penalty in Arsenal’s 3-0 win at Wolves meant he has now scored against 17 of 19 league opponents this season, having only failed to find the net against Fulham and City. Only Gunners great Wright has previously managed such a feat, with Sunderland and United the only sides he failed to net against.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 13^th, 2012.