- Title: UK: SOCCER - Chelsea and Manchester United prepare for their Premier League clash
- Date: 21st September 2008
- Summary: LONDON, UK (FILE) (REUTERS) CHELSEA COACH LUIZ FELIPE SCOLARI TALKING TO PLAYERS
- Embargoed: 6th October 2008 13:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVABSIRAJZ9HSVU1NCGBP40W1DOD
- Story Text: Alex Ferguson say Manchester United don't want be be nine points behind Chelsea after the sides meet on Sunday.
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson said on Friday (September 19) that he doesn't want to fall nine points behind Chelsea after the two powerhouses of English football meet on Sunday.
United go to Stamford Bridge, where Chelsea are unbeaten in a league game since February 2004, on the back of a rare Premier League defeat by Liverpool last Saturday, which put the champions six points behind early season leaders Chelsea.
Ferguson said his side, which will be boosted by the return to fitness of recent signing Dimitar Berbatov in attack, can ill afford another below-par performance against one of their title rivals.
"I think we don't want to come away trailing nine points and that type of thing, we don't want to be nine points behind Chelsea, we don't want to be nine points behind anyone, so obviously we've got a big job to do and the players are up for it," said Ferguson.
"It's not a daunting task for Manchester United to go there, the ability we have in our team, I think they respect that, I think they know fine well that Manchester United can win this game on Sunday."
Ferguson said he believed Luiz Felipe Scolari's purchase of Portugal midfielder Deco had changed the way Chelsea have played since Scolari replaced Avram Grant as manager following United's Champions League final win over the London club.
He may be tempted to bring fit-again Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo into his starting lineup following an impressive Champions League performance in mid-week, in an effort to stop Chelsea opening up a big advantage at the top of the table.
"He was on fire the boy, he was really revved up to perform really well and that's what surprised me given he's had an operation, he's been in rehabilitation for the last two months and hasn't played since May 21st. So it was a big ask and you have to say his performance level was outstanding, really good."
Speaking in London Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari refused to get caught up in the hype surrounding Sunday's Stamford Bridge clash with Manchester United, saying that it was just another game.
"The challenge when I came to England is to win the Premier League, it's all the games, not only the games against Manchester United. The challenge for Chelsea is to win all the competitions that we participate in, this is one more game nothing different," he said.
"Three points against Manchester United is the same as three points against Stoke City, against Wigan, or against Portsmouth, no different, three points."
Chelsea's flying start to the season, combined with United's sluggish one, means that a victory for Scolari would put his side nine points clear of the champions but the wily Brazilian was not about to get carried away.
"If we win, we follow with Liverpool in first position," he said.
"It's better for us because we make nine points for Manchester United, but it's starting the league, a long way. If it was the last three or four games nine points is fantastic, but we have 33 or 34 games more, nine points is nothing."
Scolari said he was delighted to have captain and centre back John Terry available after his suspension for a red card last week was rescinded on appeal. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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