English Premier League : High-flying United have history in sights
League leaders face Sunderland today, Chelsea take on Southampton.
Ferguson wants Manchester United to surpass Chelsea’s unprecedented total of 95 points from the 2004-05 campaign. PHOTO: REUTERS
LONDON:
With Manchester City having conceded defeat in the Premier League title race, runaway leaders Manchester United are switching their focus to the pursuit of records and the preservation of freshness in their squad.
United visit Sunderland today when victory would provisionally take them to a massive 18 points clear of second-placed City, who host Newcastle United later in the day and whose manager, Roberto Mancini, accepts United can no longer be caught.
Eighteen points is the record margin by which United won the title from Arsenal in 2000, while manager Sir Alex Ferguson has spoken of his desire to eclipse Chelsea’s unprecedented haul of 95 points from the 2004-05 campaign.
In the immediate aftermath of the international break, Ferguson has given a strong hint that he will make changes for the visit of Martin O’Neill’s side.
“Every coach is praying that their players come back fit,” said Ferguson. “I have to make sure I have some freshness in the team because we also have Chelsea on Monday lunchtime.
“It’s a big ask for our squad and something we need to concentrate on because I need to make sure I pick the right teams.”
The United manager is adamant that will not change his team’s attitude to their remaining matches.
“The approach has been right. We’re just trying to win the next game. It’s the only way we can approach it.
“We’re in an unusual position. We didn’t expect to have this kind of lead but we’ve got to take advantage of that and win our next game and that reduces the number of games left and we just have to whittle the games away and see where it takes us.”
“The concentration and commitment and team spirit has been excellent.”
Benitez tells Chelsea to aim for second
Meanwhile, Rafael Benitez insists Chelsea can still claim second place in the Premier League ahead of a trip to Southampton today that marks the start of a testing run of fixtures for the Blues.
Benitez’s third-placed side will attempt to increase the pressure on Manchester City, who sit five points ahead in second spot.
That marks the first of six games in a 16-day period for Chelsea, with the FA Cup sixth-round replay against Manchester United next up just 48 hours later.
The programme will test Benitez’s squad to the limit but the Spaniard said, “It is better to have this problem than be at home watching it on the television. It is better to have this schedule because it means you are still competing.
“With a top side, the last month in the season is when you fight for trophies. We are still there and it is a positive. At this stage of the competition, you have to win games and then you can win trophies. It has to be now, in this period.
“I would like to see if we can reduce the gap or think like this, but I’m sure they will be concerned like we are concerned about Tottenham, Arsenal and Everton.
“In recent weeks we have been training very well and we were competing really well and the team was playing very good football.
“So if you can keep all these things and this momentum, I will not be worried about the other teams. I will be just watching Manchester City.”
Published in The Express Tribune, March 30th, 2013.
With Manchester City having conceded defeat in the Premier League title race, runaway leaders Manchester United are switching their focus to the pursuit of records and the preservation of freshness in their squad.
United visit Sunderland today when victory would provisionally take them to a massive 18 points clear of second-placed City, who host Newcastle United later in the day and whose manager, Roberto Mancini, accepts United can no longer be caught.
Eighteen points is the record margin by which United won the title from Arsenal in 2000, while manager Sir Alex Ferguson has spoken of his desire to eclipse Chelsea’s unprecedented haul of 95 points from the 2004-05 campaign.
In the immediate aftermath of the international break, Ferguson has given a strong hint that he will make changes for the visit of Martin O’Neill’s side.
“Every coach is praying that their players come back fit,” said Ferguson. “I have to make sure I have some freshness in the team because we also have Chelsea on Monday lunchtime.
“It’s a big ask for our squad and something we need to concentrate on because I need to make sure I pick the right teams.”
The United manager is adamant that will not change his team’s attitude to their remaining matches.
“The approach has been right. We’re just trying to win the next game. It’s the only way we can approach it.
“We’re in an unusual position. We didn’t expect to have this kind of lead but we’ve got to take advantage of that and win our next game and that reduces the number of games left and we just have to whittle the games away and see where it takes us.”
“The concentration and commitment and team spirit has been excellent.”
Benitez tells Chelsea to aim for second
Meanwhile, Rafael Benitez insists Chelsea can still claim second place in the Premier League ahead of a trip to Southampton today that marks the start of a testing run of fixtures for the Blues.
Benitez’s third-placed side will attempt to increase the pressure on Manchester City, who sit five points ahead in second spot.
That marks the first of six games in a 16-day period for Chelsea, with the FA Cup sixth-round replay against Manchester United next up just 48 hours later.
The programme will test Benitez’s squad to the limit but the Spaniard said, “It is better to have this problem than be at home watching it on the television. It is better to have this schedule because it means you are still competing.
“With a top side, the last month in the season is when you fight for trophies. We are still there and it is a positive. At this stage of the competition, you have to win games and then you can win trophies. It has to be now, in this period.
“I would like to see if we can reduce the gap or think like this, but I’m sure they will be concerned like we are concerned about Tottenham, Arsenal and Everton.
“In recent weeks we have been training very well and we were competing really well and the team was playing very good football.
“So if you can keep all these things and this momentum, I will not be worried about the other teams. I will be just watching Manchester City.”
Published in The Express Tribune, March 30th, 2013.