Ferguson’s mission statement on taking over at Old Trafford a quarter of a century ago – “to knock Liverpool off their bloody perch” – will be achieved today if United take the point they need at Blackburn to make certain of a 19th championship.
While that will take them beyond the record they share with Liverpool, Ferguson acknowledged that the decision to reward Dalglish’s early restoration work at Anfield with a three-year contract has made them an immediate threat to United’s hopes of making it 20.
In the 21 years since Liverpool last won the title during Dalglish’s first spell as manager, they have only once finished above United – when Gerard Houllier’s team were runners-up to Arsenal in 2001-02 with United third.
Ferguson, however, has been hugely impressed by Dalglish’s return to his spiritual home, which not only included a comprehensive 3-1 win over United at Anfield in March but has prompted a surge of form that places Liverpool above the champions-elect and second only to Chelsea in the form table for the second half of the season.
“Liverpool will be galvanised next season, I am sure of that,” said Ferguson. “Kenny has signed a three-year contract that settles the club down and I am sure there will be plans to add to that.
“It just makes it [the top four] even more interesting next year. It has become tighter and tighter. We have spoken for years about the ‘big four’ but sides like Tottenham have not got back into the Champions League this year and they have had a fantastic season.
“It is going to be really difficult next season.” In 1990, United lagged 18-7 behind Liverpool on championships won, but Ferguson stands on the brink of his 12th title believing they were always likely to haul back their rivals. “I said last year that it would happen,” he said, “because of the history of the club.
“There is a good structure to the club. We still produce young players well, our scouting is good in terms of getting young players into the club at the right time and it would have happened anyway whether that was this year, next year or in 10 years’ time. The history and capability of the club would always have given us a chance.”
But Ferguson believes it is becoming harder to finish top of the pile not only because of the increased competition for the top-four places but also the determination of other clubs simply to survive in the Premier League because of the riches on offer.
“It is going to be difficult for a team to get 90 points again because of the improvement of teams in the middle and towards the bottom of the Premier League,” he said.
“Winning the league has always been hard – I can only think of 1999-2000 when we won it with a lot of points and were a long way in front. There has been an increase in desire from teams in the middle of the league to do better because the only place to be in English football is the Premier League.
“It is the only place you can ever make money.”
Even if United win their last two games, they will finish with only 82 points – 13 fewer than Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea amassed in 1995 and nine below their best tally over a 38-game season of 91, achieved in 1999-2000.
But Ferguson insists that does not make them inferior champions, amid continuing suggestions they are not a vintage United team.
He said: “People keep saying that but we have scored more goals than anyone else. We have had some great performances this year – we were excellent against Chelsea last Sunday – and some players have excelled.
“We have lost to Wolves and dropped points to Birmingham, who are both at the bottom, and we have also dropped points to West Brom, Aston Villa and Newcastle, so there is every suggestion that it is a tough league.”
Midfielder Darren Fletcher will play some part at Ewood Park today as he builds up his strength and fitness in a bid to win a Champions League final place following a debilitating virus.
Apart from goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, who will be rested, Ferguson will field a full-strength team in the hope of wrapping up the 19th title in style.
Source http://www.express.co.uk/
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