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Manchester United will seek to pile the psychological pressure on their absent English Premier League soccer rivals today with a victory against Wigan to increase their lead at the top of the table.
With second-placed Arsenal preparing for the League Cup final against Birmingham, and defending champions Chelsea with no fixture, a United win at Wigan will leave their rivals with little margin for error.
A United victory would leave them a mammoth 15 points clear of Chelsea ahead of the two sides re-arranged fixture at Stamford Bridge next Tuesday.
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will be certain to remove any trace of complacency from his team’s ranks as they prepare to meet a Wigan side mired in a relegation dogfight at the foot of the table.
Ferguson’s squad have struggled to find their best form in recent matches, with a lacklustre 1-0 win over non-league Crawley last weekend followed by a mind-numbing 0-0 Champions League match with Marseilles on Wednesday.
United captain Nemanja Vidic believes the club are entering what could be the decisive part of their season, with next Tuesday’s clash with Chelsea followed by games against Liverpool and Arsenal in coming weeks.
Vidic is insisting that the club abide by the old adage of taking each game as it comes – starting with Wigan.
“We have other important games to play first and the next is Wigan. We have to take three points and I believe we can,” Vidic told the club’s website.
Ferguson has, meanwhile, dismissed any burn-out fears at Manchester United after revealing his selection policy is turning into a “nightmare” ahead of the critical stage of the season. While managers have voiced fears over seeing their players jaded, the Manchester United manager suggests he’s more concerned about juggling his side to keep everyone happy.
Manchester United face another pivotal week in their season, starting with today’s league game at Wigan.
Key league games follow next week against Chelsea and Liverpool in what could go some way to deciding where the English Premier League trophy ends up this season.
But Ferguson says, whatever the outcome, fatigue won’t become a factor at Old Trafford.
“My experience is that players want to play in all the games now. That is the problem,” he said.
“I’m helped a little bit as I have two or three injuries at the moment. My options are condensed a bit and I think the players who are playing all the time are delighted by that and want that.
“I have found over the years it’s a nightmare picking teams as you leave players out who want to play in the big games. As this stage of the season there are big games, there’s no doubt that.”
The rest of the English Premier League are playing catch-up as Ferguson’s side look to strengthen their grip on the title, and Ferguson believes consistency now holds the key to winning silverware at the end of the season.
“Only one team can win the league,” he said.
“It won’t be easy for them to come back from however many points deficit they have got. “The team who is the most consistent will win the league and that’s why I stress we have to keep our momentum going and get that consistency. “It doesn’t matter who or when you play them. The important thing is keep the momentum going.”
The likes of England defender Rio Ferdinand head a long injury list for Manchester United. With Jonny Evans also sidelined, it has presented young centre-back Chris Smalling with a chance that he has seized with both hands, having been partnered with captain Vidic.
Yet despite catching the eye, Ferguson claims he is only keeping Ferdinand’s starting spot warm before his expected return for the run-in. “Smalling has done fantastic. He is only 20 (sic, 21) but Rio’s experienced and I think Chris will understand that,” he said.
“In games like going to Liverpool, if Rio is fit and ready for that I will definitely play him.”
Along with Ferdinand’s return, Manchester United are set to receive a further boost with Michael Owen, Park Ji-Sung and Antonio Valencia all closing in on a comeback.
Wigan meanwhile, have prepared for the game by re-laying the notoriously boggy playing surface at the DW Stadium, a move that will assist both sides, who favour a slick passing game.
Latics boss Roberto Martinez said he had qualms about preparing a surface which is likely to benefit United as much as his own team.
“You don’t want to go into a game where the players cannot express themselves and cannot play the game they want to play or we want to play,” he said. “I’m extremely proud of that.
“From now until the end of the season every point is going to be valuable and it is important we do everything we can to help our players.”
Elsewhere at the top of the table, Manchester City, who sit in third spot, eight points behind United, will attempt to keep their flagging title hopes alive with a win over Fulham, managed by former City boss Mark Hughes.
Fulham have prepared for the game with a trip to Portugal, as Hughes seeks to rejuvenate his squad following last weekend’s disappointing FA Cup exit to Birmingham.
Fixtures
Today (all 5pm): Aston Villa v Blackburn, Everton v Sunderland, Newcastle v Bolton, Wigan v Man Utd, Wolves v Blackpool.
Tomorrow: Man City v Fulham (5pm), West Ham v Liverpool (3:30pm).
Monday: Stoke v West Brom (10pm).
English Premier League
PWDLFAPts
Man Utd261691572557
Arsenal271755572756
Man City271476432449
Tottenham271386383147
Chelsea261367462245
Liverpool2711610353239
Sunderland279108333337
Bolton27999383736
Newcastle279810423835
Stoke2710314313433
Blackburn279513344232
Blackpool279513425132
Fulham276138282831
Everton266128333630
Birmingham 266128253530
Aston Villa277911314630
West Brom277713355228
Wigan2751210274527
West Ham2751012304825
Wolverhampton277416274625. – AFP.
Online Reporter