Window of opportunity for resilient United

ALEX FERGUSON has urged Manchester United to ease their Champions League pain by piling more misery on underfire Chelsea.

After spending the last three months desperately searching for a glimmer of hope in the Premiership title race, Ferguson has finally spotted the opening he craves.

Victories over Portsmouth at Old Trafford today and against relegation threatened Crystal Palace next Saturday would reduce Chelsea’s lead to just three points by the time Jose Mourinho’s resume their championship campaign at Norwich with an evening kick-off.

Although the Stamford Bridge outfit would then boast two games in hand, Ferguson has seen opponents crumble at United’s feet in the past when the intensity reaches its greatest during the latter stages of the season.

And with Chelsea now suffering the stumble Ferguson predicted they would, the Scot believes United could not have any greater incentive to shrug off the bitter disappointment of Wednesday’s home loss to AC Milan.

“This is a big opportunity for us,” said the Red Devils chief.

“All my players are aware of the situation. The chance of reducing the gap to six points this weekend is a major incentive.

“Every time you mention your opponents, it tends to be put down to psychological warfare, mind games and all that nonsense.

“I prefer to look at the facts. Everyone would agree, probably even Chelsea themselves, that they are not playing as well as they were five or six weeks’ ago.

“They have lost two important matches over the last few days, they have lost one important player (Arjen Robben) to injury, and, if they lose a league game, they don’t have any real form to fall back on.

“What we have to do is win our own games and then hope Chelsea lose the one that would let us back in it.”

But a defiant Mourinho responded to suggestions that Chelsea are suffering a blip that will encourage Ferguson and Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger by saying: “They (Manchester United and Arsenal) can’t speak to us about blips because they’re not in a better position than us. We are top of the league by nine points and in the Carling Cup final.”

It is a source of regret to Ferguson that the first back-to-back defeats of Mourinho’s managerial career have come in cup combat, although any attention diverted to the Portuguese coach’s plight is minuscule compared to the damage limitation exercise he has carried out at United’s Carrington training ground in the wake of Milan’s triumph.

Unlike Chelsea’s mishaps, the subject of Roy Carroll’s part in Hernan Crespo’s late winner was not a topic on Ferguson agenda, although the indications are that the Irishman will remain in the Red Devils’ goal for today’s televised clash.

A far more enthusiastic response was received following confirmation Ruud van Nistelrooy will start for the first time in three months.

After finally overcoming the Achilles problem that has wrecked his season, the prolific Dutchman looked to be in clear need of match practice during his 30-minute re-appearance against Milan.

Ferguson felt van Nistelrooy’s lack of recent action was a contributing factor in the late miss that would have brought his side back on level terms.

But, with two games to play before the return encounter at the San Siro, the United chief believes his brilliant striker will eventually have a major influence on the tie.

“Ruud will start tomorrow, and against Crystal Palace, so he will be far sharper for the Milan trip,” he said.

Closing the gap on Chelsea remains the principle reason why Ferguson is demanding victory today, but there is also a revenge element to his planning.

It was at Fratton Park where United suffered their last Premiership defeat, a stunning 2-0 loss 16 games ago on October 30, just six days after they had spectacularly ended Arsenal’s record 49-match unbeaten run.

Meanwhile, Manchester United fans face at least another fortnight before learning whether Malcolm Glazer intends to launch a formal bid for the club.

Glazer’s advisors completed a two-week examination of United’s accounts yesterday and will spend the next seven days analysing findings before setting up a meeting with the American.

Although it is widely anticipated that Glazer will make a 1.1bn approach at some stage over the next month, the precise details of the bid still need to be formalised in the hope of earning a recommendation from United chief executive David Gill.

The Red Devils board previously indicated they were unlikely to back Glazer’s bid, even though they regard the 434 cent per share as a good deal on offer from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers owner.