Ferguson hoping for Blues slip-up

FERGUSON'S VIEW Arsenal 2-4 Man Utd

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson said his team are ready to pounce if Chelsea falter in their bid for the Premiership title.

United are eight points behind the Blues after Tuesday's 4-2 win at Arsenal, but Ferguson is not giving up.

"Football is a game no-one can predict. I am still waiting for the contrary nature of the game to throw everything up in the air," he said.

"Put it this way, if they start making mistakes, we will be ready."

Both managers said before whoever lost was out of the title race Sir Alex Ferguson

But the Scot admitted that Chelsea, who have a game in hand over the Reds, were still in an extremely strong position.

"We could win every game and it may not make any difference," he said.

"But I think the most important thing is that we showed we're on great form ourselves and, on that form, we must have a chance, but they've got to slip up."

Ferguson said his side's win ended Arsenal's hopes of retaining the Premiership title.

"Both managers said before whoever lost was out of the title race," said the Scot, whose side trailed 1-0 and 2-1.

"Having gone behind twice, it shows the measure of our character.

"We had the mental strength and on the night we were fantastic in terms of character and will to win, and we played some fantastic football."

Manchester United defender Gary Neville echoed his manager's comments when it came to the title race.

"If we can perform like that until the end of the season it'd give us a good chance of closing the gap," he said.

"But we need them to start playing at a lesser level than they are now because they are in a fantastic run of form."