Nani: Man United have psychological advantage over Blues…but do they?
The cry-baby 24-year-old believes that Chelsea will fear a trip to Old Trafford after the recent Champions League clash between the sides:
“The results against them in the Champions League were very good. I think that gives us the psychological advantage.
“We just have to concentrate on our football and winning the game. If we do that then everything will be fine. If we win this one then it is a great advantage for us. It is nearly over then. We have a great chance.”
(ESPN)
Now, Manchester United are undeniably the favourites for the title and every reason to be confident at home as they remain unbeaten there this season and have won 16 out of the 17 games played at Old Trafford. The other advantage they have over the Blues is that a draw would be good enough for them, which is a lot easier to achieve than the task that Carlo Ancelotti’s side is faced with.
And of course, United will be confident after already dispatching of Chelsea in the Champions League semi-finals.
However, the momentum is with the west Londoners, who have defied the odds and their critics by clawing their way into a title race that nobody thought that they would be in after suffering such a drastic loss of form mid-season and fifteen points off the pace.
United would have never have foreseen their rivals being within three points of them coming into this game and the pressure is very much on Sir Alex Ferguson’s side, who were nailed on for the league title only a few weeks ago and there were even talks of a treble.
But after going out of the FA Cup against Manchester City, have Chelsea gaining ground in the Prem and a Champions League final against Barcelona – the Red Devils could conceivably end up potless, unlikely, but the pressure is on them to finish the job.
Both Ferguson and Ancelotti are no strangers to spectacular league comebacks either, as the former’s side famously won the Premier League title in 1996 after cutting down Newcastle United’s 10 point lead. Kevin ‘I would love it’ Keegan was not amused.
As for Ancelott, when he was manager of Juventus in 2000, he saw his side throw away a nine point lead to let Sven-Goran Eriksson’s Lazio side pip them to the Serie A title. Wouldn’t it be ironic if we saw a reversal in fortunes between the pair and Fergie given a taste of his own medicine?
But saying that, it’s still a mountain to climb for the Blues, but a situation we never expected to find ourselves in and whatever happens on Sunday, the team has shown a lot of character to get themselves close to the league leaders and I’m proud of their never say die attitude.