News : Ferguson focuses on Man Utd game
Sir Alex Ferguson has demanded Manchester United keep their Premiership title fate in their own hands and not rely on favours.
A Chelsea defeat at Arsenal, plus a point in the Manchester derby could see United crowned champions on Sunday.
But Ferguson said: “The name of the game is for us to win our games, that’s the only way we can think.
“We cannot rely on anyone else, that would be the wrong attitude, that’s why we should concentrate on beating City.”
The irony that Chelsea could surrender the title after a game against United’s long-time bitter rivals Arsenal is not lost on Ferguson.
But he said: “I don’t know how Chelsea are going to do, but if we lose tomorrow and they win their last three games, they will win the league.
“That’s why all we should do is concentrate on our games.”
Ferguson also expects his players to rebound from the disappointment of their Champions League semi-final defeat to AC Milan, against a City side who would relish the chance to derail their neighbours’ title hopes.
The United boss said: “Footballers have defeats, you have to recover from them and historically in my time here, we have done that very well.
“The players know City will want to put one over on us and try to prevent us winning the league, but these are all things that make it a bigger incentive for us.”
Ferguson also tried to play down City’s loss of Joey Barton and Ousmane Dabo following their training-ground scrap.
He said: “I don’t pay a lot of attention to what is happening at City but I don’t think it will affect the players that Barton is missing.
“Once the game starts what has happened during the week will be lost to them and whoever replaces Barton will be delighted to be playing.”
By bbc.co.uk
