- Lou Macari
United legend Lou Macari has told ManUtd.com he has always viewed Chelsea as the Reds' biggest threat in the race for Barclays Premier League glory.
The reigning champions overtook Arsenal on goal difference after Wednesday's matches; both clubs are now six points behind Sir Alex Ferguson’s side with five games remaining. Macari is monitoring the situation avidly in his role as an MUTV pundit and believes the Old Trafford clash with the Blues on Sunday 8 May could prove decisive in the Reds' pursuit of a record 19th league title.
"To be honest, before they moved into second place, I still saw Chelsea as our biggest challengers," Macari admitted.
"I just never had the belief that Arsenal, week in and week out, would go out and pick up maximum points wherever they were playing – home or away and whoever their opponents would be.
"I thought Arsenal would make mistakes. Making the mistakes they have has allowed Chelsea back into contention. Chelsea's result will be the first one I’ll be looking for after ours each weekend.
"If you look at Chelsea's remaining fixtures, I can’t see them losing any of those... apart from the game against us. Okay, Chelsea have got to play Tottenham at Stamford Bridge but I expect them to win their home games, especially now they're so close to the top, the closest they’ve been since they fell away in October."
Macari feels Sir Alex will have fully expected a battle to land the title in any case as the pressure begins to build ahead of United’s next assignment – Saturday’s home clash with Everton.
"That's what winning the title is all about in most seasons," he explained. "Very seldom does anybody walk away with it and have it wrapped up long before the end of the season.
"It's fair to say, in the last couple of games that we've played against Chelsea, although we got through in the Champions League, I don’t think there’s a great deal between the teams. I just hope we’re first past the winning post and I don’t care where they finish!
"If we can just get a couple more results - certainly a result against Chelsea at Old Trafford - then I think we'll win the league.
"We're not going to make any mistakes against Blackpool in the last game of the season. If we had to win that game, I don't care how well Blackpool can play or have played, they're in freefall and not looking like a team that can stand up to United at Old Trafford.
"So if we happen to beat Chelsea on 8 May, it's game over.
"Hopefully we can pick up three points on Saturday," he continued. "Even though Chelsea are playing West Ham at home, there would be a little bit of pressure on them as there's no room for error.
"We've got to do our job first by beating an Everton side that was easy to beat but have
now been revitalised in the last couple of months.
"I think, when nerves play a part, little doubts come into your mind but, on our day, when we're firing and playing near our best, we should beat Everton.
"It's up to the players to get back to our best form rather than the form we saw in the last couple of games. The game against City wasn't great from our point of view as it was a big game and we came unstuck so we've just got to make sure we get it right on Saturday."
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