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London Times, February 9, 2009
Sir Alex Ferguson writes off Chelsea's title chances
Sir Alex Ferguson believes Chelsea have waved goodbye to their title hopes
Oliver Kay, Football Correspondent
div#related-article-links p a, div#related-article-links p a:visited {color:#06c;}Sir Alex Ferguson appeared to write off Chelsea's prospects of reclaiming the Barclays Premier League title last night after seeing his Manchester United team return to the top of the table with a hard-fought 1-0 win over West Ham United at Upton Park.
United are odds-on favourites to win a third consecutive title after Ryan Giggs's first league goal of the season sent them two points clear of Liverpool, who have played a game more. Ferguson suggested that his team cannot discount the threat posed by the Merseyside club or Aston Villa, but he did volunteer that Chelsea's faint hopes appear to be over, given that they are seven points adrift, having played a game more, after a deeply frustrating goalless draw at home to Hull City on Saturday.
“It is going to be difficult for Chelsea, it is fair to say,” Ferguson said. “But in the context of football, as we know it, mistakes can be made. We had an 11-point lead over Arsenal in 1998 and lost it. We are not counting our chickens and we don't think we should because this game can come and bite you. We are saying in the dressing-room that this is a fantastic result and performance. It is time to kick on.”
While Chelsea struggle, leaving Luiz Felipe Scolari to face growing discontent in the stands at Stamford Bridge, and Arsenal's problems mount after they had Emmanuel Eboué sent off and lost Emmanuel Adebayor to injury during their 0-0 draw away to Tottenham Hotspur yesterday, United continue to sweep all before them. They and their goalkeeper, Edwin van der Sar, have kept clean sheets in 13 consecutive league games, the Dutchman yesterday surpassing the British league record of 1,155 unbeaten minutes, set by Bobby Clark, of Aberdeen, in 1970-71. The new mark stands at 1,212 minutes.
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“It is a great credit to the players and I'm very proud of them,” Ferguson said. “Clean sheets is going to be a topic, but it doesn't change the emphasis on our game. We've played some fantastic possession football. What the back four are doing is focusing and concentrating on their jobs. They've got pace, they're quick and, of course, we've got a goalkeeper in Edwin van der Sar who is just fantastic.
“I'm proud for Edwin. At his age, 38, he has achieved everything, but you can see the way he is motivated by the challenge of the clean sheets and it's an extra edge.”
More than Van der Sar, though, it was another veteran, Giggs, who stole the plaudits. The 35-year-old scored the decisive goal in the 62nd minute and remains on course for an unparalleled eleventh Premier League winner's medal. “I'm searching my memory bank for the last time he scored with his right foot,” Ferguson said. “He is a credit to the game. If anyone wants an example of how to dedicate themselves to football, you could have no greater example.”
United are in preliminary discussions with the former Wales winger about a one-year extension to his contract, which expires at the end of the season, and Gianfranco Zola, the West Ham manager, who played until he was 38, believes that Giggs could carry on for at least another two seasons.
“I still had the desire to play, which is why I kept playing for years,” Zola said. “Ryan Giggs can be the same. But it is not only about Ryan Giggs. We were playing against the best team in Europe and maybe the world.”
Sir Alex Ferguson writes off Chelsea's title chances
Sir Alex Ferguson believes Chelsea have waved goodbye to their title hopes
Oliver Kay, Football Correspondent
div#related-article-links p a, div#related-article-links p a:visited {color:#06c;}Sir Alex Ferguson appeared to write off Chelsea's prospects of reclaiming the Barclays Premier League title last night after seeing his Manchester United team return to the top of the table with a hard-fought 1-0 win over West Ham United at Upton Park.
United are odds-on favourites to win a third consecutive title after Ryan Giggs's first league goal of the season sent them two points clear of Liverpool, who have played a game more. Ferguson suggested that his team cannot discount the threat posed by the Merseyside club or Aston Villa, but he did volunteer that Chelsea's faint hopes appear to be over, given that they are seven points adrift, having played a game more, after a deeply frustrating goalless draw at home to Hull City on Saturday.
“It is going to be difficult for Chelsea, it is fair to say,” Ferguson said. “But in the context of football, as we know it, mistakes can be made. We had an 11-point lead over Arsenal in 1998 and lost it. We are not counting our chickens and we don't think we should because this game can come and bite you. We are saying in the dressing-room that this is a fantastic result and performance. It is time to kick on.”
While Chelsea struggle, leaving Luiz Felipe Scolari to face growing discontent in the stands at Stamford Bridge, and Arsenal's problems mount after they had Emmanuel Eboué sent off and lost Emmanuel Adebayor to injury during their 0-0 draw away to Tottenham Hotspur yesterday, United continue to sweep all before them. They and their goalkeeper, Edwin van der Sar, have kept clean sheets in 13 consecutive league games, the Dutchman yesterday surpassing the British league record of 1,155 unbeaten minutes, set by Bobby Clark, of Aberdeen, in 1970-71. The new mark stands at 1,212 minutes.
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“It is a great credit to the players and I'm very proud of them,” Ferguson said. “Clean sheets is going to be a topic, but it doesn't change the emphasis on our game. We've played some fantastic possession football. What the back four are doing is focusing and concentrating on their jobs. They've got pace, they're quick and, of course, we've got a goalkeeper in Edwin van der Sar who is just fantastic.
“I'm proud for Edwin. At his age, 38, he has achieved everything, but you can see the way he is motivated by the challenge of the clean sheets and it's an extra edge.”
More than Van der Sar, though, it was another veteran, Giggs, who stole the plaudits. The 35-year-old scored the decisive goal in the 62nd minute and remains on course for an unparalleled eleventh Premier League winner's medal. “I'm searching my memory bank for the last time he scored with his right foot,” Ferguson said. “He is a credit to the game. If anyone wants an example of how to dedicate themselves to football, you could have no greater example.”
United are in preliminary discussions with the former Wales winger about a one-year extension to his contract, which expires at the end of the season, and Gianfranco Zola, the West Ham manager, who played until he was 38, believes that Giggs could carry on for at least another two seasons.
“I still had the desire to play, which is why I kept playing for years,” Zola said. “Ryan Giggs can be the same. But it is not only about Ryan Giggs. We were playing against the best team in Europe and maybe the world.”
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