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Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson identifies April derby against Manchester City as key after ‘significant’ Stoke win
The veteran boss admits that drawing level on points with the Premier League leaders is important but feels that the real test of his side's challenge will come later
1 Feb 2012 14:16:00
By George Ankers
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Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has his sights on April’s derby against Manchester City as the key to deciding the destination of the Premier League title, after his side drew level with the leaders on Tuesday night.
Javier Hernandez and Dimitar Berbatov both scored from the penalty spot as the Red Devils recorded a 2-0 victory over Stoke City, whilst Roberto Mancini’s men fell to a surprise defeat at the hands of Everton.
“This was obviously a significant victory but we are only on the last day of January,” Ferguson told reporters after the game.
“I always see March and April as the important months. We've got Manchester City in April for instance.
As for Hernandez's opener, Ferguson said: “It was a very good penalty, but he takes them for Mexico so it wasn't a problem.
“Dimitar thought he was going to take the first one so he took the second one and he scored too so we're pleased with that. It has been a good night.”
Opposing boss Tony Pulis opined that it had been a very good night for United, though he argued that it remains a three-horse race for the title.
“It is very open,” he insisted.
“Tottenham are still in it. Harry [Redknapp] will be writing it off but he won't personally, I am sure.
“He will be hanging onto their coat-tails hoping they drop points, as Manchester City have done.
“Alex will be the same and the one thing United have got over them is that they have done it before and they usually get stronger after Christmas. He will be chuffed at the results tonight.”
Ferguson’s men are now trail their fierce rivals by goal difference alone as they prepare for a testing away trip to Chelsea on Sunday.
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Javier Hernandez and Dimitar Berbatov both scored from the penalty spot as the Red Devils recorded a 2-0 victory over Stoke City, whilst Roberto Mancini’s men fell to a surprise defeat at the hands of Everton.
“This was obviously a significant victory but we are only on the last day of January,” Ferguson told reporters after the game.
“I always see March and April as the important months. We've got Manchester City in April for instance.
As for Hernandez's opener, Ferguson said: “It was a very good penalty, but he takes them for Mexico so it wasn't a problem.
“Dimitar thought he was going to take the first one so he took the second one and he scored too so we're pleased with that. It has been a good night.”
Opposing boss Tony Pulis opined that it had been a very good night for United, though he argued that it remains a three-horse race for the title.
“It is very open,” he insisted.
“Tottenham are still in it. Harry [Redknapp] will be writing it off but he won't personally, I am sure.
“He will be hanging onto their coat-tails hoping they drop points, as Manchester City have done.
“Alex will be the same and the one thing United have got over them is that they have done it before and they usually get stronger after Christmas. He will be chuffed at the results tonight.”
Ferguson’s men are now trail their fierce rivals by goal difference alone as they prepare for a testing away trip to Chelsea on Sunday.
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| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets! |
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Live!
England 1-0 Belgium, Netherlands 4-0 Northern Ireland - follow all the international action LIVE! ahead of Euro 2012
With countries across the continent gearing up for their final warm-up games ahead of Euro 2012, join us for all the action from Saturday's friendlies. Get in touch with us via Twitter with your reaction.
Hosted by Joe Doyle
Hosted by Joe Doyle
19:59 BST
Unfortunately for Northern Ireland, they are trailing the Netherlands 4-0 at half-time. Looks like that one's all sewn up then.
19:54 BST
We're still getting plenty of Hazard chat on Twitter. A few are now saying that he's not worth the hype, others saying he was brilliant(!?) and others (which I agree with), saying he created much of his own hype. What do you think? Get involved!
19:46 BST
Joe Hart has also been giving his thoughts after the Belgium game: "It was a really tough game, a good run out. I thought we played well, [but] we were a little bit bitty at times.
"But, we came through. Obviously there were a lot of changes so it's good to get the result.
"Belgium are a very, very strong side who are going to be really good in the future. Vincent [Kompany] told me about them and said that they were coming good and I totally agree with him."
"But, we came through. Obviously there were a lot of changes so it's good to get the result.
"Belgium are a very, very strong side who are going to be really good in the future. Vincent [Kompany] told me about them and said that they were coming good and I totally agree with him."
19:38 BST
Here's Roy Hodgson's reaction to the result and some injury chat: "I'm very pleased, it's been a hard week and we've used a lot of players. There was a lot of disruption in the second-half with substitutions – some forced upon us, some we wanted to do. But it's still a very good end to the week playing against a good Belgian team here. Arguably even stronger than the Norwegian team we played last week and I've got to be more than happy that we've come out with another victory."
"[Gary] Cahill I suppose is slightly more of a concern for me because it is a jaw injury. We're desperately hoping the CT scan doesn't show any fracture and it's just going to be a bruising situation, which will be bad enough, but won't stop him taking part in the tournament. As far as John's [Terry] concerned he felt his hamstring a little bit. Again it wasn't a major thing when he came off but we still need to scan it just to be 100 per cent sure."
Suffice to say, if Cahill has broken his jaw, he won't play any part in the tournament.
"[Gary] Cahill I suppose is slightly more of a concern for me because it is a jaw injury. We're desperately hoping the CT scan doesn't show any fracture and it's just going to be a bruising situation, which will be bad enough, but won't stop him taking part in the tournament. As far as John's [Terry] concerned he felt his hamstring a little bit. Again it wasn't a major thing when he came off but we still need to scan it just to be 100 per cent sure."
Suffice to say, if Cahill has broken his jaw, he won't play any part in the tournament.
19:35 BST
And another point from today: Eden Hazard wasn't great. Don't think you can judge him on one performance though. What do you think? Is it just a case of too much hype around the Chelsea-bound Belgian?
Inside Goal.Com
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