Scott Watson [The Guardian], Saturday 11 April 2009
• I'm pleased he said I'm scared, says Man United manager
• We're in a fantastic position despite blip, claims Scot
Sir Alex Ferguson has questioned the focus of Rafael Benítez by claiming it was "fantastic" to hear the Liverpool manager accusing him of being scared of the Merseysiders the day before their Champions League quarter-final first leg against Chelsea at Anfield.
Liverpool have reduced United's seven-point lead at the top of the table to one point since winning 4-1 at Old Trafford last month but Ferguson expressed surprise at the timing of the Spaniard's latest attack.
"If you ask me a question about other teams, I'll give you an opinion," Ferguson said. "There's no fault in that. Arsène Wenger was talking about Manchester United a couple of weeks ago when he was asked a question and he gave a fair answer. But the interesting thing as far as Rafa Benítez is concerned is that he's got a European tie [against Chelsea] and he's talking about Alex Ferguson. Fantastic – I didn't know I was that important."
When asked whether he felt he had successfully "got under Benítez's skin", Ferguson grinned before replying: "I have no more comment to make." United will end today top, regardless of the outcome of Liverpool's lunchtime game against Blackburn at Anfield, if they emerge with three points from their encounter with Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
But with Chelsea emphatically dismantling Liverpool on the way to a 3-1 win on Wednesday, Ferguson believes that west London, rather than Merseyside, could pose the greatest threat to United's title hopes. Ferguson said: "Chelsea will be absolutely buoyed up by the victory. You saw the celebrations at the end. They knew it was an emphatic result and they will be flying at the moment.
"That was a good performance by them. I remember when we won the Treble in 1999 – you can never forget Ryan Giggs's goal [against Arsenal] at Villa Park. That just lifted everyone and from then on we were unbeatable. It does that to you when you get a very important result, but hopefully Chelsea are beatable. I'd be happy with the race going down to the last day, though. It would do me fine because we're used to that. We've done it four times."
Rio Ferdinand and Jonny Evans will miss the Sunderland fixture (both with groin injuries) but Ferguson said Wayne Rooney would play after dismissing reports the forward suffered a rib injury against Porto on Tuesday. Despite United's recent run of just one victory in four games, Ferguson is confident his players can ride the storm and deliver the title.
"It doesn't matter what happened against Porto, we're still in the European Cup with a chance, we're still in the FA Cup semi-final with a chance, we're top of the league with a chance - so what more can I do but just remind the players why we got here? We're in a fantastic position."
• I'm pleased he said I'm scared, says Man United manager
• We're in a fantastic position despite blip, claims Scot
Sir Alex Ferguson has questioned the focus of Rafael Benítez by claiming it was "fantastic" to hear the Liverpool manager accusing him of being scared of the Merseysiders the day before their Champions League quarter-final first leg against Chelsea at Anfield.
Liverpool have reduced United's seven-point lead at the top of the table to one point since winning 4-1 at Old Trafford last month but Ferguson expressed surprise at the timing of the Spaniard's latest attack.
"If you ask me a question about other teams, I'll give you an opinion," Ferguson said. "There's no fault in that. Arsène Wenger was talking about Manchester United a couple of weeks ago when he was asked a question and he gave a fair answer. But the interesting thing as far as Rafa Benítez is concerned is that he's got a European tie [against Chelsea] and he's talking about Alex Ferguson. Fantastic – I didn't know I was that important."
When asked whether he felt he had successfully "got under Benítez's skin", Ferguson grinned before replying: "I have no more comment to make." United will end today top, regardless of the outcome of Liverpool's lunchtime game against Blackburn at Anfield, if they emerge with three points from their encounter with Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
But with Chelsea emphatically dismantling Liverpool on the way to a 3-1 win on Wednesday, Ferguson believes that west London, rather than Merseyside, could pose the greatest threat to United's title hopes. Ferguson said: "Chelsea will be absolutely buoyed up by the victory. You saw the celebrations at the end. They knew it was an emphatic result and they will be flying at the moment.
"That was a good performance by them. I remember when we won the Treble in 1999 – you can never forget Ryan Giggs's goal [against Arsenal] at Villa Park. That just lifted everyone and from then on we were unbeatable. It does that to you when you get a very important result, but hopefully Chelsea are beatable. I'd be happy with the race going down to the last day, though. It would do me fine because we're used to that. We've done it four times."
Rio Ferdinand and Jonny Evans will miss the Sunderland fixture (both with groin injuries) but Ferguson said Wayne Rooney would play after dismissing reports the forward suffered a rib injury against Porto on Tuesday. Despite United's recent run of just one victory in four games, Ferguson is confident his players can ride the storm and deliver the title.
"It doesn't matter what happened against Porto, we're still in the European Cup with a chance, we're still in the FA Cup semi-final with a chance, we're top of the league with a chance - so what more can I do but just remind the players why we got here? We're in a fantastic position."
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