SOCCER:Manchester United and Chelsea are being lined up for an end-of-season showdown at Stamford Bridge that Premier League and television executives anticipate could represent a winner-takes-all title decider.
United are currently scheduled to visit Stamford Bridge on Saturday, April 14th. That, however, has also been designated as the weekend for FA Cup semi-finals and, if either club make it to that stage, the league game will be postponed until the final week of the season, with May 8th or 9th the most likely dates.
Sky is acutely aware of the interest that would exist around such a match and the possibility has already been floated of rearranging the fixture with the intention of recreating a game that would have similarities to Arsenal's visit to Liverpool in May 1989 - when Michael Thomas's last-minute goal sent the title to Highbury on goal difference.
The Premier League confirmed last night it is a "possibility" although for now, at least, it remains dependent not only on United or Chelsea progressing to the last four of the FA Cup but on them still being within touching distance of each other in April. United are four points ahead after the St Stephen's Day fixtures, when United beat Wigan 3-1 while Chelsea could only draw 2-2 at home to Reading.
United also have a far superior goal difference, having scored 44 goals and conceded 11 in their 20 league games. Chelsea have scored 35 and conceded 15, and Ferguson felt sufficiently emboldened yesterday to predict the 13-goal advantage would not be clawed back and effectively counts as another point.
"The goal difference helps us," said the United manager. "There is no doubt about that. I have always believed that 10 or 12 goals makes up another point and, if it remains that way, it is something we will have to fall back on. Hopefully we won't have to but it is there anyway."
Ferguson believes Chelsea, despite their recent problems, still have the strength in depth to sustain a challenge for the rest of the season but he has said more than once he will be happy for it to go to the final week of the season and a "photo-finish".
Three days short of his 65th birthday Ferguson has been encouraged by the news from Stamford Bridge that John Terry may need back surgery at a time when Jose Mourinho is already missing Joe Cole, Petr Cech and Arjen Robben through injury, while Michael Ballack and particularly Andriy Shevchenko have struggled to adapt to the Premiership.
In stark contrast Ferguson's squad is virtually injury-free and he will be bringing seven fringe players, including Giuseppe Rossi from Newcastle, back from loan spells next week, as well as preparing Henrik Larsson for his debut against Aston Villa in the FA Cup on Sunday week.
United are quietly optimistic about bringing in Owen Hargreaves from Bayern Munich during January and Ferguson has made it clear he does not want to "leave anything to chance" by letting any of his players leave.
Ferguson has also promised his back-up players that they will play significant parts in the coming months.
Of his first-choice XI only five were present against Wigan and there will be more changes when the team take on Reading at Old Trafford on Saturday, with Paul Scholes and Nemanja Vidic both suspended.
"We are coming to the part of the season where we have to utilise the squad," Ferguson said. "I need to let some of those players who haven't been in the team regularly know that I have confidence in them and that I trust them. I want them to feel they have made a contribution."
Meanwhile, Julio Baptista hopes to stay at Arsenal beyond this season - but admits his future is uncertain.
The 25-year-old Brazilian attacking-midfielder - signed on a season-long loan from Real Madrid - has struggled to make an impact in the Premiership.
He told the Spanish paper AS: "The idea is to participate as much as possible and at the end of the year evaluate everything and decide if the positives outweigh the negatives . . . But I can imagine myself being here for a few seasons."
Arsenal will be without striker Emmanuel Adebayor for the trip to Sheffield United on Saturday. The in-form Togo striker picked up a thigh strain during the final stages of the 2-1 win at Watford on Tuesday.
Guardian Service
