Ferguson turns to Hughes as City has 'hands on the trophy'
Source: Agencies |
May 8, 2012, Tuesday
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Print Edition
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ONLY the most unlikely of turnarounds can now prevent Manchester City from beating Manchester United to the English Premier League title.
"They probably have two hands on the trophy," United manager Alex Ferguson said.
City's 2-0 win at Champions League hopeful Newcastle means the league leader effectively needs only to beat struggling Queens Park Rangers in Sunday's final round to clinch its first championship since 1968. Goals from Paul Scholes and Ashley Young secured a 2-0 win for Manchester United against Swansea City.
City has won 17 of its 18 home games and QPR has won just three of its 18 away games, so it's obvious why bookmakers now make the Blues a 1-9 favorite to hoist the trophy.
If City wins, United will need to at least match its 17-year-old Premier League record with a 9-0 victory against Ipswich to overturn City's superior goal difference. Neither scenario is likely, even with QPR needing a point to be sure of avoiding relegation.
Ferguson said a collapse by City would rank alongside that of one of the most infamous losers in British sporting history. Devon Loch was 40 meters from the winning post in horse racing's 1956 British Grand National when he collapsed, seemingly without reason.
"There could be a Devon Loch, you never know," Ferguson said.
"Stranger things have happened in this game of football. They're red-hot favorites but we've won the title on three occasions on the last day and we don't mind doing it again."
United's last-day opponent, Sunderland, has only lost four times at home this season, further complicating matters for the record 19-time champions.
Ferguson has been left hoping that one of his former players can do him a favor.
Mark Hughes, a former United player, was fired as manager of Manchester City in December 2009 and replaced by Roberto Mancini despite losing just two matches that season.
"QPR need a point and they're fighting for survival," Ferguson said. "The whole future of the club could be resting on the game and I only wish "Sparky" (Hughes) was playing.
But Mark knows his job all right. He was sacked by City in a very unethical way and he'll remember that."
"They probably have two hands on the trophy," United manager Alex Ferguson said.
City's 2-0 win at Champions League hopeful Newcastle means the league leader effectively needs only to beat struggling Queens Park Rangers in Sunday's final round to clinch its first championship since 1968. Goals from Paul Scholes and Ashley Young secured a 2-0 win for Manchester United against Swansea City.
City has won 17 of its 18 home games and QPR has won just three of its 18 away games, so it's obvious why bookmakers now make the Blues a 1-9 favorite to hoist the trophy.
If City wins, United will need to at least match its 17-year-old Premier League record with a 9-0 victory against Ipswich to overturn City's superior goal difference. Neither scenario is likely, even with QPR needing a point to be sure of avoiding relegation.
Ferguson said a collapse by City would rank alongside that of one of the most infamous losers in British sporting history. Devon Loch was 40 meters from the winning post in horse racing's 1956 British Grand National when he collapsed, seemingly without reason.
"There could be a Devon Loch, you never know," Ferguson said.
"Stranger things have happened in this game of football. They're red-hot favorites but we've won the title on three occasions on the last day and we don't mind doing it again."
United's last-day opponent, Sunderland, has only lost four times at home this season, further complicating matters for the record 19-time champions.
Ferguson has been left hoping that one of his former players can do him a favor.
Mark Hughes, a former United player, was fired as manager of Manchester City in December 2009 and replaced by Roberto Mancini despite losing just two matches that season.
"QPR need a point and they're fighting for survival," Ferguson said. "The whole future of the club could be resting on the game and I only wish "Sparky" (Hughes) was playing.
But Mark knows his job all right. He was sacked by City in a very unethical way and he'll remember that."
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