The League Table

 

Team P GD PTS

1	Man Utd	35	+56	85
2	Chelsea	35	+40	80
3	Liverpool	36	+31	67
4	Arsenal	36	+28	66
5	Bolton	36	-3	55
6	Everton	36	+13	54
7	Portsmouth	36	+6	53
8	Tottenham	35	0	53
9	Reading	35	+6	51
10	Blackburn	35	-4	47

Mourinho: We’ll keep going

 

Jose Mourinho insists his Chelsea side will keep believing they can win the title, but he admits United are firmly in the driving seat after an incredible day in the Premiership.

United came from 2-0 down at Everton to win 4-2, while Chelsea let slip their 2-1 lead to draw at home to Bolton.

The Reds now have a five-point lead at the Premiership summit, but Mourinho says his side won’t be giving up just yet.

“It was an emotional game and the scoreline kept jumping about from us to Bolton,” Mourinho told the BBC.

“When it went to 2-2 they sat back and fought for everything. There were perhaps too many emotions for us in the game but we still played with a lot of heart and the players gave everything to try and win the game.

“United are in a much better situation but we know if we take nine points from our last three games and United lose six points then we’ll be okay. It’s not easy to lose six points but anything is possible in football.

“We have to keep believing – it’s part of our position as current champions. But the reality is it is much more difficult for us [to win the title] now. The lads are sad and frustrated with the result but as champions we have to believe and give everything until the end of the season.”

Lubomir Michalik fired Bolton ahead from close range on 19 minutes. Salomon Kalou drew the home side level three minutes later, before an own goal from Trotters’ goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen put Chelsea in front 11 minutes before half-time.

But Bolton kept battling and they got their just rewards when Kevin Davies headed Gary Speed’s past Petr Cech nine minutes after the restart.

United could be crowned champions next weekend if they beat Manchester City on Saturday and Chelsea fail to win at Arsenal 24 hours later.

Sir Alex: Let’s step up a gear

 

Sir Alex: Let’s step up a gear

Sir Alex Ferguson believes his United side may need to produce its best away performance in Europe this season if the Reds are to reach the Champions League final.

United are 3-2 up against AC Milan after the first leg at Old Trafford. But, with two away goals in their favour and a formidable reputation at the San Siro, the tie is relatively evenly poised.

United have lost to Copenhagen, Celtic and AS Roma on the road in the competition this season and even the narrow 1-0 victories over Benfica and Lille will have to be improved upon, according to the United boss.

“We have to step up a gear,” urged Sir Alex.

“There’s a chance that we will concede over there, so we have to score. And we will be going over there with an attitude to score.”

A draw would do for the Reds, but aiming for a draw is a dangerous standpoint to take, especially with the quality of opponents now a notch higher.

“Away from home, against Benfica and Lille, we have picked up 1-0 results without being brilliant. But we need to really play well in Milan and have a goal threat about us.”

Defeat in Milan two years ago ended United’s hopes of European glory. But with a team whose maturation has been remarkable since 2005, Sir Alex knows full well that this is a test of just how far the Reds have come.

“What we have got to do is crossing the line like we did against Juventus in 1999, when we needed to go there and get a result,” he said. “Milan have got a richer European history, but we have got a great history also. I think it could be any score, I really do.

“In the first leg, even at 2-1, I still fancied us. I thought at half time we had a chance.

“When you see the goals we lost, they were poor goals to concede. But we had something to cling to – we were creating chances. I said to the players: ‘If you’re conceding goals like that, what chance are you giving yourselves?’.

“But I thought the quality of our football in the first half was good. We were making chances and there was a momentum to our game. I felt that the longer that went on the better it would get.

“I wouldn’t say we are favorites, but we have given ourselves a great chance,” added the boss. “A goal lead is a great start in European football. But we also have a good counter-attacking capability in our team with our speed on the break.”

                                                Reference: www.ManUTD.com

Another win

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