Sir Alex Ferguson insists Manchester United still have a great chance of retaining the Barclays Premier League title, even though he concedes the advantage lies with Chelsea.
With Carlo Ancelotti's men on FA Cup semi-final duty at Wembley tomorrow, United will return to the top of the table if they can beat Blackburn at Ewood Park on Sunday.
United will, however, have to beat Blackburn without Wayne Rooney, who has been sidelined by the ankle injury he aggravated during their midweek UEFA Champions League exit at the hands of Bayern Munich.
You would rather be in Chelsea's position but we have a chance of winning the league, and so have Arsenal, who are a point behind us.
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
United's Champions League exit came just four days after a home defeat by Chelsea. The result cost the Red Devils pole position on the league table, leaving them as outsiders to clinch an unprecedented fourth successive title.
"Five wins would give us a great chance," said Ferguson. "Chelsea will be thinking five wins gets them the title and, at a crucial time of the season, the advantage is with them. But we hope that something can happen," he added.
"You would rather be in Chelsea's position but we have a chance of winning the league, and so have Arsenal, who are a point behind us."
The absence of Rooney seemed likely the moment he limped out of the Bayern game following the second-half dismissal of full-back Rafael. Yet Ferguson insists the problem is not long-term and should have his 34-goal forward fit for next weekend's Manchester derby at Eastlands.
"We won't have Wayne for Sunday," confirmed Ferguson, "It is nothing serious, as we said the first time he got the injury. I think he will be ready for the Manchester City game because we have more time to work on it."
Ferguson is expected to make further changes given the energy United expended on Wednesday, with Paul Scholes, Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs all set to be included, along with John O'Shea, who was introduced as a substitute in midweek in his first appearance since November.
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