United’s crunch weekend

Friday, 16/04/2010

Is the title sewn up? Losing to Chelsea two weeks ago, effectively, ended Man United's season.

That defeat kick-started an agonising turn of events for Reds fans: knocked out in the Champions League on away goal after a dominant second leg showing and held to a stalemate by Blackburn the following Sunday.
What a difference a week makes: prior to that result, United appeared genuine contenders for the Premier League and Champions League titles, to complete a treble.
Now the League Cup looks likely to stand alone in the trophy room and record books.
Don't shoot me down, but all is not lost. Yet. This weekend could have as much, if not more, bearing on the title.
Saturday's lunchtime Manchester derby has that extra bit of spice already added through the antics of Carlos Tevez, but the respective chase of each outfit really puts everything at stake.
Then, at tea time, Chelsea head to White Hart Lane to face a buoyant Spurs team, who will still be bouncing after beating Arsenal in the North London derby.
If United can beat City and Spurs see off Chelsea, the gap at the top  of the league will be cut to a single point going into the final three games. With a visit to Anfield remaining for Carlo Ancelotti's men, their tilt may yet wilt.
Then again, victory for all the Blues on Saturday and the West London club will be a single victory short of securing the title.
It's a game of percentages and close calls. Nemanja Vidic escaping red in the Carling Cup final, for instance. Or, perhaps, Didier Drogba's match-winner two weeks ago standing despite being well offside.
They say things come in threes. If they do, United are due another twist. If it's ever going to happen, it's this weekend.

Lee Price is the editor of www.football-previews.co.uk www.football-previews.co.uk

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