UNITED KINGDOM: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Manchester United seek to build title winning momentum

Record ID: 336298

  • Title: UNITED KINGDOM: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Manchester United seek to build title winning momentum
  • Date: 6th February 2010
  • Summary: MANCHESTER, UK (FILE) (REUTERS) MANCHESTER UNITED PLAYERS ON TEAM JOG AT TRAINING
  • Embargoed: 21st February 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: United Kingdom
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAALCLLXMVC0CM2YOA59BT0PGCV
  • Story Text: Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has warned his players that inconsistency in performance could cost them any chance of successfully defending their English Premier League title.
    United host on and off field strugglers Portsmouth at Old Trafford on Saturday (February 6). They are currently two points adrift of leaders Chelsea, who play Arsenal on Sunday (February 7).
    Ferguson told reporters on Friday (February 5) that every game from now on in could have a say in who lifts the trophy in May.
    "Whatever games we've got left, if we win most of them, we've got a great chance," Ferguson said of the title race with Carlo Ancelotti's Chelsea.
    "And Portsmouth comes into that category so it's a big game for us.
    "We've got the keep the momentum going as we've got an important time coming up. We've got to go to Villa Park on Wednesday, we've got the Milan game and the League Cup final. We've got a big time coming up, consistency and form is going to be important for us."
    Portsmouth's financial and off-field difficulties have been well documented in recent times and the club announced on Wednesday (February 4) that they are now under the control of their fourth owner this season.
    Pompey's plight in 2010 could not be further from United's, whose season took a turn for the better last Sunday (January 31) when they beat Arsenal 3-1 at the Emirates Stadium.
    Ferguson hinted that performance was now the benchmark.
    "We had a massive game against Arsenal last week, we were in great form and it was a very good performance by us," he said.
    "Hopefully this is kick-on time. Each game that comes along on the road to the finishing tape becomes important and it doesn't matter who it is, it's three points for every game now and hopefully we can keep that consistency."
    Ferguson has seen nearly everything in the Premier League and insists if they can minimise the amount of points dropped in the run in to the end of the season, the title will be theirs once again.
    "Look, in the run in and I've said this time and time again, teams will always drop points, there's no doubt about that.
    "In our experience, we know that if you drop more than the rest, you''re going to lose the league and that's a fact. Our aim is to try and be consistent and try and produce the kind of performances we did last Sunday and that will take us very close."
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