By Joe Drabble Last updated: 25th March 2008
Ferguson: Chelsea threat
As I've said all along, the team who shows real consistency between now and the end of the season will win the league.
Sir Alex Ferguson
Quotes of the week
Sir Alex Ferguson believes the greatest threat to his side's hopes of recording back-to-back Premier League titles is the charge of Avram Grant's Chelsea.
The Blues' crucial 2-1 victory over Arsenal on Sunday extended their unbeaten run to 14-league games as they continue to push United all the way in the race for the title.
With five points now separating Ferguson's men and Chelsea, the United boss believes the Stamford Bridge clash between the two side's on 26th April could prove decisive.
"I think Chelsea hold the key," Ferguson said. "We've still got to go to Stamford Bridge where they've got a formidable home record.
"We have established a good lead but we're not taking anything for granted, we have to carry on playing the way we have been.
"As I've said all along, the team who shows real consistency between now and the end of the season will win the league."
The United side which beat Liverpool 3-0 in the first half of Grand Slam Sunday included just three players over the age of 30 - Edwin van der Sar, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes.
Ferguson admitted he is delighted with how his young side have blossomed this season as they continue their challenge for silverware both domestically and in Europe.
"We've developed as a team this season and I think you saw that maturity reach its peak with our win over Liverpool," he said.
"We've retained the consistency of last season, we're challenging for the league again and we're in the quarter-finals of the European Cup."

Chelsea 1-0 Man Utd - Blog
Chelsea 1-0 Man Utd - Ferguson
Chelsea 1-0 Man Utd - Ancelotti
Chelsea 1-0 Man Utd - Terry
West Ham 1-2 Everton - Zola
West Ham 1-2 Everton - Moyes
Wigan 1-1 Fulham - Martinez
Wigan 1-1 Fulham - Hodgson
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Monday 9th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 20:00 | Liverpool vs Birmingham |
| Saturday 21st November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Liverpool vs Man City |
| 15:00 | Birmingham vs Fulham |
| 15:00 | Burnley vs Aston Villa |
| 15:00 | Chelsea vs Wolverhampton |
| 15:00 | Hull vs West Ham |
| 15:00 | Sunderland vs Arsenal |
| 17:30 | Man Utd vs Everton |
| Sunday 22nd November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | Bolton vs Blackburn |
| 15:00 | Tottenham vs Wigan |
| 16:00 | Stoke vs Portsmouth |
| Wednesday 25th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Hull vs Everton |
| 20:00 | Fulham vs Blackburn |
| Saturday 28th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Stoke |
| 15:00 | Fulham vs Bolton |
| 15:00 | Man City vs Hull |
| 15:00 | Portsmouth vs Man Utd |
| 15:00 | West Ham vs Burnley |
| 15:00 | Wigan vs Sunderland |
| 17:30 | Aston Villa vs Tottenham |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Sunday 8th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Chelsea 1 - 0 Man Utd | |
| West Ham 1 - 2 Everton | |
| Wigan 1 - 1 Fulham | |
| Hull 2 - 1 Stoke | |
| Saturday 7th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Wolverhampton 1 - 4 Arsenal | |
| Man City 3 - 3 Burnley | |
| Tottenham 2 - 0 Sunderland | |
| Blackburn 3 - 1 Portsmouth | |
| Aston Villa 5 - 1 Bolton | |
| Wednesday 4th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| West Ham 2 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Sunday 1st November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Birmingham 0 - 0 Man City | |
| Saturday 31st October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man Utd 2 - 0 Blackburn | |
| Sunderland 2 - 2 West Ham | |
| Portsmouth 4 - 0 Wigan | |
| Bolton 0 - 4 Chelsea | |
| Stoke 2 - 2 Wolverhampton | |
| Fulham 3 - 1 Liverpool | |
| Burnley 2 - 0 Hull | |
| Everton 1 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Arsenal 3 - 0 Tottenham | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chelsea | 12 | 30 |
| 2 | Arsenal | 11 | 25 |
| 3 | Manchester United | 12 | 25 |
| 4 | Tottenham Hotspur | 12 | 22 |
| 5 | Aston Villa | 12 | 21 |
| 6 | Manchester City | 11 | 20 |
| 7 | Liverpool | 11 | 18 |
| 8 | Sunderland | 12 | 17 |
| 9 | Stoke City | 12 | 16 |
| 10 | Burnley | 12 | 16 |
| 11 | Fulham | 11 | 15 |
| 12 | Everton | 11 | 15 |
| 13 | Wigan Athletic | 12 | 14 |
| 14 | Blackburn Rovers | 11 | 13 |
| 15 | Birmingham City | 11 | 11 |
| 16 | Bolton Wanderers | 11 | 11 |
| 17 | Hull City | 12 | 11 |
| 18 | West Ham United | 12 | 10 |
| 19 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 12 | 10 |
| 20 | Portsmouth | 12 | 7 |
Skysports.com looks at the best and worst moments from the latest round of top-flight fixtures.
Have a read through the skysports.com debate on Chelsea's 1-0 win over Man Utd at Stamford Bridge.
Sunderland fan Lucinda Gittins was strutting her stuff in the Soccer AM studios this week.
A John Terry header proved the difference as Chelsea beat Manchester United to move clear at the top of the Premier League.
Hull came from behind to beat Stoke 2-1 at the KC Stadium to ease the pressure on Phil Brown.
Wes Brown feels Chelsea's winning goal should not have stood as he insists he was fouled by Didier Drogba.
Sir Alex Ferguson insisted John Terry's winner should not have been allowed to stand after Man United's defeat at Chelsea.
Carlo Ancelotti admitted his delight in beating Chelsea's "best opponent" at Stamford Bridge.
Comments (3)
Ikram Don (Manchester United fan) says...
I think that Man utd have what it takes to win the premier league this year and maybe the champions league as well if they carry on playing the way they have been. The win over liverpool on Grand slam sunday proved crucial for manchester united to go to the top of the table. As for arsenal i think it will be very difficult for them to win the premiership because they have alot of away matches still to play. Although Manchester united still have to play Arsenal on the 13th April and then Chelsea on the 26th they have to win at least one of them to win the premiership. And liverpool is most definietely out.
Posted 15:01 25th March 2008
Anthony Rowe (Manchester United fan) says...
I think that Arsenal's slide has shown everybody how quickly the title race can turn around. United will be aware of that and with the squad strength we have we should be able to keep going but it's going to be close. If the title is won before the last game I'll be impressed
Posted 13:44 25th March 2008
Shafie Khan (Manchester United fan) says...
Even im a Manchester united fan...i believe arsenal and chelsea still got the chance to win the title...because 7 more games to go and anything can happen cause this is football....now after watching the sunday showdown between the top four..whoever now play their game with real consistency will go on to win the title..but for me manchester united will retain their title because this season they shown us what real champions are..they play like real champions this season by playing beautiful football..and also their players are hungry for success...this year will be the colour of red again...so all united fans out there keep on cheering ur team till the end...GLORY GLORY MANUNITED!!!
Posted 12:00 25th March 2008