Don’t write our title hopes off yet, says Ferguson
The champions reeled off their ninth straight league win when they put five past Bolton on Saturday, consolidating their 10-point advantage over the third-placed Red Devils.
Even though less than a quarter of the campaign has been completed, some bookmakers have already started paying out on Jose Mourinho’s men, so certain are they Chelsea will retain their crown.
Even Ferguson, whose side host the table-toppers on November 6, accepts the Londoners are pushing themselves into an extremely strong position.
But, while he admits the Champions League is currently a more obvious trophy target than the Premiership, Ferguson has been around long enough to know nothing will be won for a while yet.
“At this very moment in time, the Champions League is obviously our best chance because unless Chelsea start dropping points they are going to be in a very strong position,” he said the Scot.
“They are relentless just now but it is still only October and it would be silly to think about them being champions.”
Ferguson is far from finished yet though and remains as determined as he has ever been to bring the European Cup back to Old Trafford for a third time.
And, although he might not welcome the suggestion, United’s chances of achieving that aim could be aided by Chelsea’s seemingly unstoppable march on the domestic front.
The Old Trafford chief is convinced the draining effects of a Premiership campaign undermine an English challenge on the European front.
Liverpool’s surprise success last year, he believes, was partly due to their total failure to mount any kind of title fight.
“The English league is very fierce,” he said. “We have eight games in December alone and that makes it very difficult for us.
“You have more chance of winning the Champions League if you are fresh rather than having battled through the Premiership, then need to try and win a quarter-final, semi-final and final.
After picking up an encouraging four points from their opening two fixtures, United are looking to consolidate their position at the head of Group D by beating a Lille side who have managed just one draw and are yet to score.
Home hopes are hampered by the absence of Wayne Rooney, who serves the final game of a two-match ban picked up for his dismissal in Villarreal.
It offers Ryan Giggs an obvious opportunity for a recall, possibly in a more attacking role alongside Ruud van Nistelrooy, with Park Ji-Sung and Cristiano Ronaldo retaining their positions on the flanks.
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