Premier League title race not over, says Ferguson

Saturday Norwich City   vs   Man City     13:45     Sunderland      vs    Wolves    16:00    Swansea City   vs   Blackburn West Brom       vs   QPR

Friday, April 13, 2012
Paul Scholes will return to the United midfield for Sunday's clash with Aston Villa. Net photo.

SaturdayNorwich City   vs   Man City     13:45     Sunderland      vs    Wolves    16:00    Swansea City   vs   Blackburn West Brom       vs   QPR

SundayMan United      vs  Aston Villa    17:00 MondayArsenal                vs   Wigan        21:00    LONDON Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes the Premier League title race is still alive, despite Roberto Mancini saying the opposite.United are five points ahead of City with five games left and on Wednesday City boss Mancini stated: "It is finished. Five points is too much.”But Ferguson said: "I think he picked the wrong time to say that.  "There are five games still to go. The twists and turns of the Premier League, it’s fascinating.”Ferguson’s men moved eight points clear on Sunday after they beat QPR and City lost at Arsenal.But the deficit was reduced on Wednesday as Mancini’s side swept past West Brom and United suffered a shock defeat by Wigan."We have to put it in a bit of perspective,” said Ferguson, whose team had taken 34 points from their previous 12 games."You drop points in the second half of the season. We have done it most years."There has been an odd year when we have gone on a long run without losing but a couple of years back we lost 4-1 to Liverpool and won the league."You do drop points on the run-in. City and ourselves have both experienced that.  "But from the position we were in a few months ago, to where we are today, we have to be delighted."The great part of our club is that we do recover, and we have to recover from Wednesday.”Ferguson has confirmed that Paul Scholes will return to the United midfield for their Premier League match against Aston Villa at Old Trafford on Sunday.Scholes, who came out of retirement this season to help reinvigorate United, was rested at Wigan on WednesdayFerguson has defended his decision to rest the veteran midfielder for the trip to the DW Stadium, but Scholes, 37, will return as the Red Devils look to consolidate their title charge against Villa."Paul has shown his influence since he came back but I did the right thing to rest him on Wednesday,’’ Ferguson said.  "He will be fresh on Sunday and he will play.’’