Ferguson counting on character to deliver title

(China Daily/Agencies)
Updated: 2010-03-06 08:05

WOLVERHAMPTON, England - Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson feels his team's character will give it the edge in a three-way fight for the Premier League title with Chelsea and Arsenal.

Chelsea let United and the Gunners off the hook last weekend with their surprise 4-2 home defeat to Manchester City.

Carlo Ancelotti's side is in FA Cup action against Stoke on Sunday and United could move two points clear of the Blues with a victory over Wolves at Molineux.

Arsenal will also be strong favorites to pick up three points as they entertain struggling Burnley at the Emirates Stadium, setting the stage for a hard-to-call climax to the season.

United responded from their sixth Premier League defeat of the campaign, a 3-1 loss at Everton a fortnight ago, with a 3-0 victory over West Ham and a 2-1 win in the League Cup final against Aston Villa.

Ferguson feels Arsenal have the most straightforward of the run-ins, with their next three matches seeing them come up against three bottom-half teams.

But the United manager, who is looking to win an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title, thinks his team's mentality will give it the edge in the final weeks of the campaign.

Ferguson said: "Arsenal are bang in the frame now. They have the easiest program on paper and it will be an interesting run-in.

"Chelsea losing (to Manchester City) was a good result for us but there are a lot of hard games left.

"You have to focus at the turn of the year and make sure you don't make mistakes.

"We lost to Everton and we were a bit tired. But we recovered against West Ham and we recovered again.

"We have shown time and time again that this club has determination.

"They don't give in and that is a good quality. You will see that in the remainder of the season. We won't give in."

United will be without Michael Owen at Molineux due to a hamstring problem sustained in the League Cup final, while Rio Ferdinand is also set to miss out with a back problem.

Ryan Giggs is not ready to return from a broken arm but United can console themselves with the fact that Wayne Rooney is in the best form of his career.

Rooney has scored 28 goals this season and club captain Gary Neville feels the England striker can deal with the extra attention coming his way.