Drogba's title boast could backfire, says Ferguson

Sir Alex Ferguson's bemused, public reaction to the pronouncement by Didier Drogba this week that Chelsea have already secured the Premiership title disguised a private delight at having been gifted a ready-made team-talk ahead of Manchester United's visit to Crystal Palace today.

Whatever the motives for Drogba's ill-advised declaration that "we have won the title", the Chelsea forward's words could prove to be priceless to Ferguson in a pivotal weekend for the Premiership title race.

Victory this afternoon at Selhurst Park will nudge United to within three points of Drogba and his team-mates, ensuring an uncomfortable 30 minutes for Chelsea while they digest the further reduction of their former double-digit lead before kicking off at Carrow Road against Norwich City.

If the prospect of sowing seeds of doubt in Jose Mourinho and his players were not incentive enough, Ferguson's side have been presented with another timely piece of evidence of Chelsea's superiority complex.

"I don't know if it is confidence, bravado or false confidence but nonetheless it could backfire on them," said the Manchester United manager, himself no stranger to the posturing that accompanies a title run-in. "You wonder why did Drogba come out and say this? There are 10 games to go."

aFerguson is realistic enough to know the championship is still Chelsea's to lose but with his own side in such formidable form - United have won 14 and drawn just three of their last 17 League games - he can afford to sit back and let opposite number Mourinho make the mistakes.

"I think our form has been great, it's been terrific but whether that will be enough to take the title from them remains to be seen," Ferguson added. "Whether they can lose it, who's to say because football can be a cruel game. It doesn't matter who you play this time of year - they are all difficult games. They look on Norwich as an easy game, we look upon Crystal Palace as a difficult one.

"If we win our game then we have done our part and we just have to sit and wait. That's not to say they won't win at Norwich, but none the less they still have to play."

Reminded of Mourinho's early season boast that Chelsea would have the title sewn up by April, Ferguson responded drily: "That's hoping". But the United manager knows the key thing is to keep winning until the two sides meet at Old Trafford on 16 April. "The main thing is to be within three points when we come to play them. If they lose one game before they come to play us, then that will what we hope," he said.

If United are to remain on the heels of Chelsea, much will depend on the form and fitness of Wayne Rooney, named this week as the Premiership player of the month for February. Parallels have been drawn between Rooney's current contribution and that of Eric Cantona in the mid-1990s, a comparison Ferguson readily accepts.

"For a young lad of 19, last Saturday emphasised how important he is to us," Ferguson said. "He carried us over the line last week when we lost our way. Portsmouth needed a bit of breaking down."

Rooney could still be an Everton player had Newcastle United not triggered the auction that ended with the player's £27m move to Old Trafford last August. "I must send a letter to Freddy Shepherd, he's done something right for once," added a light-hearted Ferguson.

Gary Neville is almost certain to miss today's game because of a bruised shin but Ruud van Nistelrooy starts, along with Tim Howard who will be given another chance to claim the goalkeeper's spot ahead of the trip to face Milan on Tuesday.