Fergie targets points record

Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson has set his sights on matching Chelsea’s Premier League record points haul.

United head into this weekend’s fixtures boasting a 15-point lead over Manchester City.

It means just four wins and a draw are required from their final nine games for the Red Devils to claim a 20th championship and end City’s brief reign as English football’s top dogs.

Yet Ferguson has an additional target to aim for; eclipsing the mark set by Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea in 2004, which in turn would end any lingering hope City had of hauling back that massive deficit.

“The record is 95 points by Chelsea,” said Ferguson. “If we get to 95 points I would be absolutely delighted. That would be a fantastic season. And if we do get to that position, we have probably won the league.”

City’s demise at Everton just before the international break effectively ended their challenge, with United knowing if they avoid defeat in the Manchester derby at Old Trafford on April 8, they will be on track to eclipse their own record 18-point winning margin from 2000.

It has been the best possible recovery by United after having the title snatched from their grasp by Sergio Aguero with virtually the very last kick of the previous campaign.

And one that Ferguson did not expect.

“With Manchester City coming on the scene in the last couple of years and Chelsea and Arsenal and Tottenham, you have teams vying for that top four position,” Ferguson said.

“I expected it to be really tight.

“The first point was that after last season, we wanted to make sure we didn’t lose it on goal difference and that has improved markedly.

“But I never thought we would be 15 points clear at this stage of the season.”