Fergie has eyes on title
MANCHESTER: Sir Alex Ferguson is confident his Manchester United squad will hold their nerve to close out the Premiership title battle after watching them edge closer to the finishing line with a clinical win over struggling Sheffield United.
Goals from Michael Carrick and Wayne Rooney early in each half saw United emerge from Tuesday night's Old Trafford encounter with a 2-0 win, a result that left them six points clear of Chelsea ahead of the champions' game at West Ham yesterday evening.
"This was another step closer to the title and we have the right temperament to do it," Ferguson insisted afterwards.
"It doesn't matter what team I play, they are showing they are up for it all the time. We have a six-point lead with five games to go, this was another one on the road for us but there is still a long way and I'm looking at every game now as a cup final, they are all so important.
"In the first half we had to endure some heavy tackling and we survived that. I said to them at half-time, be sensible, get a goal and save your legs. In the end it was a great scoreline for us.
United had a number of narrow escapes against a resilient Sheffield team - notably when Luton Shelton was clearly brought down by Gabriel Heinze although referee Rob Styles failed to give a penalty.
"I haven't seen it but people say it could well have been a penalty," said Ferguson.
AFP
(China Daily 04/19/2007 page24)
