Sir Alex savoured the prospect of stealing Liverpool’s title
record from Kenny Dalglish.
Saturday, 14
May 2011
Time: 7:45 pm - (Live)
Mio Channel
110 / 102 in HD
AS Sir Alex Ferguson savoured the prospect of
stealing Liverpool’s title record, he predicted Manchester United’s
fiercest rivals will re-emerge as a force under Kenny Dalglish next
season.
Ferguson’s mission statement on taking over at Old
Trafford a quarter of a century ago – “to knock Liverpool off their
bloody perch” – will be achieved today if United take the point
they need at Blackburn to make certain of a 19th championship.
While that will take them beyond the record they share
with Liverpool, Ferguson acknowledged that the decision to reward
Dalglish’s early restoration work at Anfield with a three-year
contract has made them an immediate threat to United’s hopes of
making it 20.
In the 21 years since Liverpool last won the title
during Dalglish’s first spell as manager, they have only once
finished above United – when Gerard Houllier’s team were runners-up
to Arsenal in 2001-02 with United third.
Ferguson, however, has been hugely impressed by
Dalglish’s return to his spiritual home, which not only included a
comprehensive 3-1 win over United at Anfield in March but has
prompted a surge of form that places Liverpool above the
champions-elect and second only to Chelsea in the form table for
the second half of the season.
“Liverpool will be galvanised next season, I am sure of
that,” said Ferguson. “Kenny has signed a three-year contract that
settles the club down and I am sure there will be plans to add to
that.
“It just makes it [the top four] even more interesting
next year. It has become tighter and tighter. We have spoken for
years about the ‘big four’ but sides like Tottenham have not got
back into the Champions League this year and they have had a
fantastic season.
“It is going to be really difficult next season.” In
1990, United lagged 18-7 behind Liverpool on championships won, but
Ferguson stands on the brink of his 12th title believing they were
always likely to haul back their rivals. “I said last year that it
would happen,” he said, “because of the history of the club.
“There is a good structure to the club. We still
produce young players well, our scouting is good in terms of
getting young players into the club at the right time and it would
have happened anyway whether that was this year, next year or in 10
years’ time. The history and capability of the club would always
have given us a chance.”
But Ferguson believes it is becoming harder to finish
top of the pile not only because of the increased competition for
the top-four places but also the determination of other clubs
simply to survive in the Premier League because of the riches on
offer.
“It is going to be difficult for a team to get 90
points again because of the improvement of teams in the middle and
towards the bottom of the Premier League,” he said.
“Winning the league has always been hard – I can only
think of 1999-2000 when we won it with a lot of points and were a
long way in front. There has been an increase in desire from teams
in the middle of the league to do better because the only place to
be in English football is the Premier League.
“It is the only place you can ever make money.”
Even if United win their last two games, they will
finish with only 82 points – 13 fewer than Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea
amassed in 1995 and nine below their best tally over a 38-game
season of 91, achieved in 1999-2000.
But Ferguson insists that does not make them inferior
champions, amid continuing suggestions they are not a vintage
United team.
He said: “People keep saying that but we have scored
more goals than anyone else. We have had some great performances
this year – we were excellent against Chelsea last Sunday – and
some players have excelled.
“We have lost to Wolves and dropped points to
Birmingham, who are both at the bottom, and we have also dropped
points to West Brom, Aston Villa and Newcastle, so there is every
suggestion that it is a tough league.”
Midfielder Darren Fletcher will play some part at Ewood
Park today as he builds up his strength and fitness in a bid to win
a Champions League final place following a debilitating virus.
Apart from goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, who will be
rested, Ferguson will field a full-strength team in the hope of
wrapping up the 19th title in style.