QPR manager Mark Hughes thinks Manchester United will win title

Tweet

Queens Park Rangers manager Mark Hughes believes Manchester United's experience of winning titles gives them the edge in the race for the Premier League.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side are five points clear of Manchester City with seven matches remaining.
"There is a little bit of a sense of inevitability," said Hughes, a former manager of City and player for United.
"United have been in this situation so many times before, and City haven't. I think that can be key."

United are closing in on a record 20th league title and Hughes does not expect City, who he managed between June 2008 and December 2009, to close the gap on their neighbours and win the league for the first time since 1968.

"You sense that United are looking at fixtures, taking each game on its merits and just ticking off games they have to play from now until the end of the season," he said.
Hughes nonetheless hopes that his QPR team can cause an upset in the Premier League game between the two sides at Old Trafford on Sunday.
"Obviously we're hopeful that we're going to have a performance that will upset that plan in terms of what United expect from the game," he said.
"That is certainly our intention and we're not just going there to lie down and lose the game."

QPR are only a place outside the relegation zone on goal difference and face trips to Chelsea and Manchester City as well as Sunday's game against Manchester United. With such a difficult run-in, Hughes accepts that his side must target points from all of the seven remaining games.

"Our intention is to get something out of the game because of the situation we find ourselves in," he said.
"We'll make it difficult for them but certainly sense that, because of the situation and the turnaround that has occurred, United are in the box seat.
"You would be very surprised if they lost it from the position they find themselves in now."

Ferdinand: Still all to play for

Tweet

Rio Ferdinand insists United's celebrations at the final whistle at Blackburn on Monday night were by no means a sign that the Reds think the title is won.
The 2-0 victory at Ewood Park brought to an end a disappointing run of results against Rovers on their own patch and in turn gave Sir Alex's men a five-point lead over rivals Manchester City at the Barclays Premier League summit. Many now believe United are now a sure bet for title no.20, but Ferdinand maintains that talk of another championship crown already being in the bag is far too premature.
[The celebrations at Blackburn] were blown out of all proportion," he told ManUtd.com. "Since I have been at the club, for the last 10 years, it has been a hard place to go. We have not had good results there and we wanted to put that right and make sure we got a good result.
"We are in the position we would like to be in at this stage of the season but it is not over, and I don't think it is a time that says we won the league. Those celebrations weren't because we thought it was over, it was because we got a good result at a place where, a couple of years ago, they helped stop us winning the league. So it was nice to get one back over them.
"There is still a lot of football to be played between now and the end of the season, when the trophies are handed out," he added. "We have to make sure we apply ourselves in the right way for every game. If we do that, put in the performances and get the results we want, we will hopefully be lifting the trophy at the end of the season."
Since the January defeat at Newcastle, United have taken 31 points from a possible 33 as the momentum has swung back towards the red half of Manchester. Nevertheless, Ferdinand is refusing to take anything for granted.
"We know it can change very quickly as well, from being on a great run to having a dip. We have been there before," he said. "The only thing on our minds is to keep winning each game and not look beyond that. It is a cliché and it is boring, but that is the way it is. It is quite simple. Black and white.
"The next game is the most important one. You just have to keep ticking off the fixtures and winning games."
Next up for Sir Alex's men is an Easter Sunday clash with Queens Park Rangers at Old Trafford, who are equally desperate for points but for different reasons.
"Everyone is saying our run-in looks easy, but our next three games [QPR, Wigan, Villa] are against teams who are fighting to stay in the Premier League, so this talk of easy games goes out of the window," continues Rio.
"We know QPR have some players who can be potential matchwinners and if we are not on our game, they have the potential to beat us. At this stage of the season there are no gimmes. If we want the result, we will have to go out and earn it."

Man Utd will win title before Man City game, says Phil Neville

Tweet

Phil Neville expects his former club Manchester United to clinch the Premier League title before the derby with Manchester City on 30 April.

Neville told BBC Radio Manchester's Red Wednesday: "I think the title will be over before that game at the Etihad.
"It's not the [derby] games that are going to win you the title, it's the games against the likes of Blackburn, Swansea and Sunderland.

Continue reading the main story

“I always think it's at this stage of the season you see the true spirit and true quality in title-winning teams”

Phil Neville

"At the moment, Manchester United are doing that better than City."

He continued: "City go to Arsenal next, which is such a difficult game. It's all going in Manchester United's favour at the moment, and they've got the experience."
City won the first Manchester derby of the season 6-1 at Old Trafford, but Neville believes focusing on the return fixture may have proved a distraction.
"About a month ago, everyone looked at the game at the Etihad and thought that's the game where the title will be won, and I think even [City boss] Roberto Mancini said it," said Neville.
"I looked at the fixture list and thought the title could be over, because you start dropping points in between."
But while the Everton captain - who won six league titles in his 10 years at United - believes the title race has swung decisively in his old club's favour, he also acknowledges that they have been forced to improve by the challenge from their local rivals.

"They've had to raise the bar because Manchester City have been fantastic this season.

"United have had to go up not just a couple of gears but three or four gears, in the first half of the season just to stay close to them."
Even so, Neville thinks the Reds will be worthy winners if they go on to clinch a 13th title since Sir Alex Ferguson took charge and a 20th in all.
He said: "I always think it's at this stage of the season you see the true spirit and true quality in title-winning teams.
"United have prepared all season for March, April, May and you're now seeing a team that's bang in form - full of confidence, everyone fit - who I think are worthy champions."