Van der Sar rues late slip

Stunned goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar admits Manchester United have let Chelsea back into the race for the Barclays Premiership title.

United were just minutes away from extending their lead at the top of the table to nine points at Arsenal on Sunday when late strikes from Robin van Persie and Thierry Henry handed the Gunners victory.

That let Chelsea off the hook following their 2-0 defeat at Liverpool 24 hours early, and although the Red Devils still enjoy a healthy six-point advantage, van der Sar is hoping their late collapse at the Emirates Stadium does not come back to haunt them.

The 36-year-old Dutchman told the club’s official website, www.manutd.co.uk: “We have kept Chelsea in it. It could have been a good weekend for us and it would have been nice to take advantage of their (Chelsea’s) mistakes at Anfield.

“If we could have made the gap nine points or seven points, then it is further away than six and good for us. I just hope it doesn’t give Chelsea a lift.

“It was poor for us to lose the game like that. We were on our way to a clean sheet and playing with confidence. We are bemused by what happened.

“Nevertheless, we are still ahead and better off than we were last year. We must now concentrate on winning our next league game against Watford.”

In the meantime, United face an FA Cup fourth round clash with Premiership counterparts Portsmouth at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Swedish striker Henrik Larsson, who launched what looks likely to be a brief career in England with a debut day goal against Aston Villa in the previous round, is hoping to make Pompey pay for his disappointment at the weekend.

He said: “Losing to Arsenal was very disappointing but at a team like Manchester United, it is just a matter of learning whatever lessons we need to and putting it behind us.

“It was a good game against Arsenal in a packed stadium and obviously we thought we had done enough to win it.

“But we all know that nothing is ever decided until the final whistle, and that was shown again on Sunday.

“But nobody is disheartened. Like I said, we just have to train hard again this week and put that match behind us.

“Football is all about the next game and that is what we will concentrate on.”

The 35-year-old has adapted quickly to the tempo of English football and is relishing the chance to prove himself on another big stage.

Larsson told his own website, www.henriklarsson.com: “Football in the Premiership is a very high tempo game and in terms of the pace of the game and the quality of the play, it is as good as I expected it to be.

“I have watched the Premiership for years and it has not disappointed me at all in its high level.

“The training here has been great and the squad are a really nice bunch of lads, so it is always a pleasure.

“I will continue to work hard and try to get my fitness and sharpness up to the best possible levels.

“I haven’t a lot of time to achieve that, but I am determined to be in the best shape to try to help Manchester United as much as I can.”

Meanwhile, Bayern Munich boss Felix Magath has insisted he does not expect United target Owen Hargreaves to leave the club this month.

Asked if he anticipated either or arrivals or departures during the remaining eight days of the transfer window, he told Bayern’s official website, www.fcbayern.de: “No, I’m assuming we’ll go in pursuit of our targets - retaining the league championship and performing well in the Champions League - with the squad we have at the moment.”