Ferguson hails unpredictable ‘dream league’
Dropped points for Manchester United and Arsenal this week have offered Chelsea and Tottenham a way back into a race that had appeared beyond them.
With Manchester City also bang in contention, it is shaping up to be a compelling championship battle that may not do much for the heart rates of those involved but will only heighten the interest which surrounds the Premier League worldwide.
“It is there for everyone to win or lose,” he said.
“So many times over the last few years, people have spoken about the top four when there has been one of those periods where we are all within a couple of points of each other and said this could be a really exciting league. But by the end of the year, two teams are contesting it.
“That could happen again this season but on the other hand, if it were to be five or six involved right until the end, it would be fantastic for the league. It is the kind of league we dream of.”
The staggering nature of this season’s competition is certainly at odds with La Liga, which is often held up as the most obvious challenger to the Premier League’s popularity.
“In every set of games this season, you see a surprise result,” he said.
“We were disappointed to lose a late goal at Birmingham on Tuesday, then the next day Arsenal drop two points against a Wigan team with 10 men and Wolves go to Anfield and win.
“You are going to see a lot of these results because it is such a tough league.
“There are five or six teams challenging at the top of the league at the moment but if you look at other countries, Barcelona and Real Madrid are normally challenging for the Spanish league, it’s Bayern Munich and one other in Germany and in the Italian league it is Milan or Juventus.
“That is why it is so exciting.”
Ferguson’s assertion, however, is not strictly accurate. Bayern for example are currently fifth in the Bundesliga, 14 points adrift of leaders Borussia Dortmund.
The point is pertinent enough, though, partly because so many middle-ranking teams have performed above expectations at times this term.
One of them are United’s opponents today, West Brom who, while having slipped a little bit recently, already boast a win at Arsenal and an Old Trafford draw amongst the highlights of their return to the top flight.
“West Brom have been a refreshing team this year,” said Ferguson.
“They play the right way, they are a good threat and their goal tally has been very good.
“It is perfectly correct for us to expect a tough game.”
Those dropped points to the Baggies in October are the only ones United have lost on home soil this term.
On their travels, it has been a different matter entirely.
One win from eight away games is not a particularly impressive effort and unexpected for a team that, with matches in hand, are strong favourites to reclaim their crown.
Tuesday was yet another example of points being tossed away, although the result allowed United to enter 2011 undefeated, although Ferguson is not convinced even that constitutes an advantage.
“It is difficult to say whether you get any momentum from not losing,” he reflected.
“You don’t expect to go through the whole season undefeated, so have to handle losses.
“Certainly, a defeat is not going to put you out of the race. It is still going to be closely fought.”
While Ferguson’s mind is entirely focused on the race for the title, his opposite number today still has both eyes firmly fixed on happenings at the other end of the table.
West Brom head coach Roberto Di Matteo has said keeping his team in the Premier League would be the greatest achievement of his career, eclipsing his 34 Italy caps and scoring the in the FA Cup final for Chelsea.
“It would be in top spot,” he said.
“I would love to stay in the Premier League — it would be an absolute gift for everybody involved.”
West Brom currently lie in 14th place in the Premier League, with 22 points from 19 games at the halfway point of the season.
Despite this healthy position, the Baggies have lost their last three league games, although Di Matteo is not dwelling on the fact.
“I think everybody expected us to be at the bottom, and we’ve never really been there,” he said.
“I look at it from that positive side because at the end of the day I think we’ve done well to be where we are.”
ALEX FERGUSON has said there will be no new arrivals at Old Trafford during this month’s transfer window.
The United boss has been linked with a number of players recently, including Real Madrid’s Lassana Diarra, but insists no deal will be done until the summer at the earliest.
When questioned over whether the club would be bringing fresh faces in, he replied: “Nope, not at all. Definitely not.”
In fact, far from adding players, Ferguson has decided to trim the numbers he has available.
After watching a loan move propel Danny Welbeck towards what Ferguson expects to be an England call-up, the United boss will also release Federico Macheda for the rest of the season.
A suitable club is still to be found for the Italy Under-21 international, though his club boss was anxious to stress that Macheda still has a future at Old Trafford.
“I had a chat with Federico,” he revealed. “It would be the same thing for him - going to a club, getting experience for six months, and coming back to us a better player.”
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
