Manchester United Club Focus - Ferguson admits United can "only do what we can do"
With Manchester United's destiny this season out of their own hands, Sir Alex Ferguson has conceded that the defending champions “can only do what we can do”
Defeat at the Etihad Stadium on Monday night has left the two Manchester clubs on level points with only two games remaining. Only two colossal wins for the Reds could see them claim the title on goal difference, with City currently eight better off in this department. Ferguson also stated the obvious in that his side are now “on the back foot,” with United in need of a huge favour from Newcastle in Sunday's early kick-off. City dropping points would put United back in the box seat, with a home tie against Swansea their penultimate game of the season.
The hope that United will be clinging to in the final rounds of fixtures is that City's opponents have a lot more to play for than their own. Following their impressive victory at Stamford Bridge, Newcastle are right in the mix for Champions League football. They currently lie fifth on goal difference to Tottenham, whilst Arsenal are just a point ahead in third. With Chelsea contesting the Champions League final against Munich, only third may be good enough for entry to Europe's elite competition. The Magpies will be striving for this position after performing so admirably so far this season.
City's final game of the campaign is at home against QPR. It looks favourable on paper, but the west Londoners are scrapping for Premier League survival, and will have the threat on the counter should City's attacking game fail to ignite properly.
United meanwhile face Sunderland and Swansea, who currently lie 11th and 12th in the table. Both sides are assured of top flight football next time round, and could be considered to have little to play for. Swansea have been extremely impressive throughout their Premier League debut, but you would expect United to overcome their challenge in pursuit of the title. Sunderland, meanwhile, have struggled of late after their initial resurgence under Martin O'Neill. They have not won in seven games, and have gathered just eight points in the league from the last available 24. In O'Neill's first eight league games, the points haul was double this figure.
United will be kicking themselves that they are in the position of having to rely on others, but all they can do is hope for the best and concentrate on winning their last two games.
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