United determined to be party poopers on Chelsea visit

WHEN Manchester United arrive at Stamford Bridge a week on Saturday, with Chelsea needing just a point to retain the Premiership title, Alex Ferguson’s men will need no prompting to give every last drop of sweat.

United's players are driven by the memory of last season when Ferguson ordered his players to form a guard of honour to applaud the newly-crowned champions on to the Old Trafford pitch. It stuck in their throats then and they are determined not to be part of any more Chelsea celebrations.

"The feeling in the camp is that they cannot be celebrating after the game against us," said goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar. "We don't want to be part of that. We are playing well, especially away from home and there is a lot of spirit. We are positive about what we are doing and we can use it to give us a good feeling for next season."

United's 2-1 victory at Tottenham, on Easter Monday, prolonged the Premiership race as well as relieving the pressure on the Red Devils in their determination to finish second above Liverpool in an automatic qualifying spot for the Champions League if the big prize eludes them.

They are now six points ahead of their Merseyside rivals with just three matches remaining, and already they are learning the lessons of a season they started so poorly.

In September and October, United managed just eight points from seven league games, allowing Chelsea to race ahead. Contrast that with their recent form; their win over Tottenham was their 10th victory in 11 matches.

"The key to it is starting better and not dropping as many points at home as we have done," said Van der Sar. "This season we have dropped too many. We are happy with the result against Tottenham. It was very important to win, more because of the result Liverpool got against Blackburn than the title. We have put six points between us and Liverpool."

Meanwhile, Chelsea's England midfielder Frank Lampard believes striker Didier Drogba is winning the battle with the club's boo-boys.

Drogba was booed by his own fans for diving against Manchester City, but has since produced some of the best form of his Chelsea career, as the club close in on their second successive Barclays Premiership title.

He was given a rapturous reception by the fans during the 3-0 Easter Monday win over Everton after laying on the opener for Lampard and scoring the second with a header.

Lampard said: "Didier is playing brilliantly and it is good to see him get the relationship with the crowd he is getting. They respect and give everything for someone who works very hard for the team.

"Didier is doing that but not just that. He is playing with quality, scoring goals and making them. When they see him chase back and make a sliding tackle, get up and make a goal, that is everything you want from a striker. All credit to him because he is playing very well. It is great to see him get the reception he got."