Sir Alex Ferguson warns of Chelsea challenge

 

Sir Alex Ferguson expects Chelsea to be in the thick of the Premier League title battle, even though the Londoners have been overlooked during the opening weeks of the season.

With both Manchester clubs blazing a trail at the top of the table - City and United have yet to drop a point between them - Chelsea are being ignored.

Ferguson believes that will suit new Stamford Bridge manager Andre Villas-Boas down to the ground.

For, while the Etihad Stadium and Old Trafford attract all the publicity, the top flight's youngest coach can acclimatise himself to the new surroundings.

And, when Chelsea head to United on Sunday, Ferguson anticipates United will be taking on one of their biggest rivals.

"They will be there at the end of the season, there is no doubt about that," he said. "At the moment, of course, the two Manchester teams are enjoying the publicity that comes from the predictions that they are going to be involved in the winning of the league.

"In the background lurks Chelsea. They don't need the publicity. They will be enjoying being out of the profile at the moment."

Chelsea had enjoyed the better of recent confrontations between the teams until last season, when United recovered from losing the opening meeting between the teams to win three on the trot in just over a month, including both legs of a Champions League quarter-final.

"It will be a fantastic game," Ferguson said. "The games between both sides over the last seven years have been very close affairs.

"There is usually just one goal in it and it will be very tight on Sunday again."

Ferguson has also been impressed with the manner in which Villas-Boas has adapted to his new surroundings, having been recruited from Porto in the summer at the tender age of 33.

"The new coach has started very well," he said. "For a young man who has come to Chelsea, it is a great challenge.

"It is a hard challenge at his age but when you go to a new club, you hope you get an immediate response. He has got that.

"They are a team with great experience and they will always be a challenge to us."

Ferguson reported no fresh injury concerns, with skipper Nemanja Vidic (calf), Tom Cleverley (foot) and Rafael (shoulder) still out, while Danny Welbeck (hamstring) is not expected to be available until next week's encounter with Stoke.

Key men back for Reds' Blues date

Ashley Young and Rio Ferdinand are set to return for Manchester United in Sunday's Premier League clash with Chelsea at Old Trafford.

The duo were left out of Wednesday's Champions League clash at Benfica as Sir Alex Ferguson had one eye on the game against the Blues. Goalkeeper David De Gea is also set for a recall after Anders Lindegaard was given a run out in Lisbon, but Nemanja Vidic, Tom Cleverley and Rafael are still missing due to respective calf, foot and shoulder problems.

Striker Danny Welbeck is recovering well from a hamstring problem, but the Chelsea game will probably come too soon, while Antonio Valencia, Ji-Sung Park and Darren Fletcher will hope to stay involved in the first-team after returning to action against Benfica.

Ferguson said on his selection 'headache': "The game in Benfica was a chance to get them back. We also have the League Cup, with a game next week at Leeds, as well as the Champions League and Premier League.

"We still have two or three injuries, with Nemanja Vidic, Rafael, Tom Cleverley and Danny Welbeck.

"But they are on the mend and hopefully it won't be too long.

"It was clear the squad was a bit rusty early on in the Benfica match, probably because the players who haven't played, but they grew into the game and ended up doing really well.

"But we will need everyone available."

Giggs is my hero! Chelsea new boy Mata hails inspirational United legend

Juan Mata could face one of his idols this weekend when Chelsea travel to Old Trafford for their crunch Barclays Premier League showdown at Manchester United.

Mata was just a toddler when Ryan Giggs burst onto the scene for United and he grew up captivated by the wing wizard, who this week continued to defy the passage of time by scoring for the 22nd consecutive season.

The 37-year-old also broke his own record for being the oldest Champions League goalscorer at Benfica on Wednesday night and looks certain to play some part in Sunday's meeting with Chelsea.

Mata, whose impact since joining the Blues bears comparison to that made by Giggs 21 years ago, said: 'He showed what he's worth with his goal the other day. He's actually one of the best wingers that there has been and are around right now.

'I pay more attention to him because he plays in the same position I do. He's an incredibly impressive player in his tackling, in his dribbling and in his general style.'

Sunday would not be the first time Mata has come across Giggs, with the pair briefly sharing the same pitch in Valencia's Champions League draw at Old Trafford almost a year ago.

And it is Europe's premier club competition that Mata was mainly recruited to help Chelsea win, with billionaire owner Roman Abramovich continuing to bankroll the club's attempt to realise his ultimate dream.

'I'm very much aware of this,' said Mata. 'Chelsea is a team that gives their all when it comes to any title and any competition.

'The Champions League is obviously very important and it's something that's very attractive to us. But we're also very interested in the Premier League and any other competitions that we take part in.'

Landing the Champions League appears to be more difficult than ever, especially with Barcelona and Real Madrid looking to have improved even further this season.

Mata knows all about trailing in the wake of Spain's big two from his time at Valencia but he insisted they were not invincible.

'Real Madrid and Barcelona have been doing well and growing very, very much in the last few years,' Mata said. 'They have been doing very well in the Champions League as well.

'But I think there are a number of other teams right now that could create some problems for them.

'I would mention Chelsea as one of those teams and this is a very difficult competition that we're in right now, so I think everyone has a chance.'

Mata's arrival at Chelsea owed a lot to the pester power of Fernando Torres, who reportedly bombarded his Spain team-mate with text messages in a bid to convince him to sign.

Torres hailed the acquisition as crucial to his own bid to end a dreadful run of one goal in 30 games for club and country. Mata insisted Torres was 'still the same player' who shot Spain to European Championship glory three years ago.

He added: 'He is a great player who has demonstrated in a number of matches that he can score a lot of goals.

'Everyone goes through phases but I think this will be his season, it will be a season for him to score lots of goals and give his all.'