Title is within reach - Ferguson

Ferguson's side are aiming to win their second successive title

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes his side are on track to win the Premier League title, despite losing to Chelsea on 26 April.

United's 2-1 loss led to the Blues moving level on points with Ferguson's side at the top of the table.

But he said: "We must be in the driving seat. If we both win two games we have the better goal difference.

"Hopefully we can win the match against West Ham on Saturday, which would go a long way to us winning the league."

While United host the Hammers, Chelsea travel to Newcastle on Monday in the penultimate round of fixtures this season.

Football Focus: Man Utd's Owen Hargreaves looks forward to Saturday's visit of West Ham

Defender Nemanja Vidic has been ruled out, while there is slightly better news for Wayne Rooney, who could feature after missing the Champions League semi-final win over Barcelona last Tuesday.

Ahead of his side's visit to Old Trafford, West Ham boss Alan Curbishley said he felt it would be an injustice if United did not win the title.

The timing of those comments upset Chelsea boss Avram Grant but Ferguson responded: "I don't know why he is suggesting there's going to be anything untoward.

I think the most important thing is our result on Tuesday night, it gave us the lift at the right time. Sir Alex Ferguson

"They should know better than anyone, Chelsea, about these situations.

"The important thing for us is concentrating on tomorrow's game. If both of us win both our games I will be very happy."

Both sides secured their passage through to the Champions League final in Moscow earlier this week with victories over Barcelona and Liverpool respectively.

Ferguson feels the 1-0 aggregate win over the Catalan giants could prove a turning point for his team and was the perfect response after losing at Stamford Bridge just days earlier.

"We were all disappointed to lose to Chelsea last Saturday, it doesn't matter how you have lost," said the United manager.

"I think the most important thing is our result on Tuesday night, it gave us the lift at the right time.

"Now we can pick our strongest team for the next two games and have the squad to change it if we want to and hopefully we can get over the line."

When Ferguson was asked about Manchester City's reported decision to part with manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, he said: "Nothing (in football) amazes me but I'm surprised at that.

"But you've got all different types of owners who come into football nowadays and you get some owners who want to be hands on.

"I know of a chairman that faxes his team to his manager every Saturday morning. Can you believe that? He has to pick it."

606: DEBATE It's a huge game for us, and we usually turn up for the big games. RVN_10

Ferguson would not elaborate on which club he was talking about but praised Manchester United owners the Glazer family for not interfering in football matters.

"They have been tremendous, letting me get on with the job, and I think that speaks volumes for our club," he said.

Ferguson also praised the United fans and believes the atmosphere at Old Trafford could push his side over the finishing line.

He added: "Maybe I don't even need to give a team talk, I'll just let the fans do that.

"They were fantastic on Tuesday, I don't think there has been an atmosphere in the ground like that in my time here."