Law: Blues trail in title race and fame game

Denis Law claims Chelsea have little chance of overtaking Manchester United and Real Madrid as the world’s leading club during his lifetime.

The United legend, 66, claims his former club and Real Madrid have such status it will take far more than short-term success by another team to elevate them to such a level.

Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon has set the Barclays Premiership champions a 2014 target to become the world’s leading club.

But Law told BBC Radio Five Live: “Looking at it at the present time, I would doubt that, but you never know. As years go on, depending on how they do – if they go on to win the Champions League for several years and have continued success, that’d be something.

“To me there are two real famous teams in the world, and no matter how they do in the coming years they will always be famous, and that is of course (United and) the great Real Madrid.

“They’ll never lose that and it’s something that United will never ever lose, and whether Chelsea come up to that category ... I think I’ll be well gone.”

Law believes United, who beat neighbours Manchester City in Saturday’s derby, are poised to end their Premiership title drought.

They have not been champions since 2003, but a sizeable advantage has put them in an early position of the strength.

Law said: “There’s a lot to go, but when you’re eight points ahead with a better goal difference – in a way you could say nine points – I know Chelsea have a game in hand, but even at this early stage I think United will go on to win it.”