Fergie puts his trust in Wigan

ALEX FERGUSON assessed Manchester United's title D-Day tomorrow and admitted: Wigan are our only hope.

The champions must put their trust in their North West neighbours doing them a huge favour and taking something at leaders Chelsea.

And if they do, there is a strong chance United could be back in power - providing they see off Stoke.

 

Perhaps Fergie read The Sun's historic Election Day front page on Thursday morning as he said all he and his team can do is hope.

Fergie is known for his allegiance to the Labour Party and will be praying tomorrow is a better day for the Reds than yesterday.

The United boss said: "All I know is we are in that situation where we hope, that's all we can do - hope. We have confidence Wigan will do their best and try.

"There's no question about that. We can do our job and it's pointless going expecting anything from Chelsea in our favour.

"In a way it helps us because we can express ourselves as we did last week against Sunderland.

"If it goes to the last game of the season as it's done five times here - yeah, so what? It's not a problem for us. You don't mind winning anything with the last kick."

United have an eye on Anelka

MANCHESTER UNITED are ready to nick Nicolas Anelka if his contract negotiations at Chelsea collapse.

The striker, 31, has only one year left on his Blues deal.

Talks are close to completion on a new two-year offer but United are ready to pounce if anything goes wrong.

Old Trafford boss Alex Ferguson is a long-time admirer of the well-travelled hitman.

He first looked at signing Anelka when he went on loan to Liverpool in 2002 and almost swooped again before he left Bolton for Chelsea in an £18million deal in January 2008.

The United gaffer landed Dimitar Berbatov from Spurs but the £30.75m signing has been a flop.

Fergie wants Anelka to replace the Bulgarian and he could get his man for a bargain £8m fee.

United want someone to support Wayne Rooney up front. Roo has 34 goals this season but United's next best is Berbatov on 12.

Anelka was the Premiership's top scorer last season with 19 and has 13 goals so far this campaign.

Evans contract confirmed

Jonny Evans is the latest young player to commit his next four years to United.

The Northern Ireland international has now signed a new contract to keep him at Old Trafford until at least June 2014.

Sir Alex Ferguson expressed his joy at the news in a club press statement:

"We are delighted Jonny has signed a new contract. Jonny has risen through the United ranks to become an integral part of the first-team squad, he is an intelligent defender and has been excellent in the central defensive positions at key times during the season."

Jonny Evans said:

“I am delighted to have signed a new contract. I’ve supported Manchester United all my life and it’s a great honour to be able to continue to wear the badge of this great club. I’d like to thank the staff, players and fans for their continued support in my development.”

Rio: Get ready for final twist

RIO FERDINAND has turned up the heat on Chelsea by claiming there could be one final twist in a season of shocks.

The Manchester United defender is desperately hoping unfancied Wigan can halt the Blues' title charge at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Nobody is giving Roberto Martinez's men much of a chance, but Ferdinand points out it has been a 'weird' season in the top flight.

And he hopes that means there could yet be another surprise in one of the most dramatic title races in recent memory.

The England defender, who turned out in a testimonial at his old club West Ham this week, hopes to play some part against Stoke as he returns from groin and back problems.

And he carried on the mind games with the Blues by pointing out that shocks have been commonplace.

He said: "It's been an exciting season. More so-called lesser teams on paper have been taking points off the top four.

"In previous seasons it's been a case of the big teams beating all the others and then dropping points against each other. It's been a weird season. Hopefully that'll bode well for Chelsea's game."

Ferdinand's team-mate Edwin van der Sar admits it will be strange going into the final game with their fate out of their hands after being champions for the past three years.

But the Dutchman knows the mood at Old Trafford could change very quickly if they hear some positive news from West London.

He said: "It is very strange. In the last three years we have been in command. Now we have to wait.

"It is going to be difficult. We have lost a lot of games this year but we are still in there. Hopefully Wigan will go for it on Sunday and we will hear some positive news."

If they do not make it and the title goes to Chelsea, at least Van der Sar knows he will get another go at it.

The 39-year-old admits he has surprised himself by extending his stay at Old Trafford for a sixth season - but could not be happier.

He said: "I still believed I was doing enough to play for a bigger team but you need someone to take a gamble, which Sir Alex did.

"At the time I was 34 so I didn't expect to be here six years. I thought I'd be at United for two years and then go and do something else. Instead I am steadily trying to reach my testimonial!"

Glazers snub £1.5bn Utd bid

THE RED KNIGHTS' hopes of a Manchester United takeover suffered a hammer blow last night as it was claimed the Glazer family have already rejected a £1.5billion bid.

The group of wealthy United fans were understood to be planning a £1.2bn offer for the club this summer.

But news of the Glazers' reluctance to accept a higher offer, believed to be from a Middle East consortium last year, is a massive stumbling block.

United supporters have shown their discontent for the Glazer regime with their 'green and gold' protests at Old Trafford this season.

Fans are unhappy with the lack on investment in the team, especially after Cristiano Ronaldo's world record £80million sale to Real Madrid last year.

Boss Alex Ferguson last week said he did not expect to splash out in the transfer window.

Supporters are also worried by the club's spiralling debts which stand at over £700million.

Many hoped the protests would pile pressure on the American owners and force them into selling the Premier League champions.

However, the Glazer family have remained defiant and have always said they wanted to keep hold of the club.

As well as the £1.5bn bid, it is also claimed that the Glazers have rejected a number of other offers in excess of £1bn during recent months.

Wayne: United must Roo better

WAYNE ROONEY has assessed Manchester United's season and concluded: Not good enough.

The champions are still in with a chance of landing the title on Sunday.

But, after seven defeats in the League, they must beat Stoke in their final game and hope leaders Chelsea drop points in their home clash with Wigan. Lose out and United will have only the Carling Cup to show for their efforts this term.

Hitman Rooney said: "If we could have stayed more consistent and not lost so many games we would have won the League but we've lost too many games.

"We shouldn't be losing seven games at this club."

The Reds also lost to League One Leeds in the third round of the FA Cup and went out in the Champions League quarter-finals, to Bayern Munich.

Rooney said: "The FA Cup defeat to Leeds was not good enough. As for the Champions League, we were a bit unlucky considering the way we started against Bayern.

"I couldn't see us losing that tie. But we went out on away goals and it was hard to take."

United, bidding for a fourth consecutive Premier League crown, needed deadly rivals Liverpool to do them a favour against Chelsea last Sunday.

But the Blues won 2-0 at Anfield ahead of United's 1-0 victory at Sunderland. United defender Gary Neville admitted: "I think when you leave it in the hands of others you have to take the punishment. We saw that on Sunday.

"We did our job which is all we could do and now we must hope something happens next Sunday. We live in hope. After the draw at Blackburn a few weeks ago we thought all hope had gone so at least we are still in it.

"But we will be kicking ourselves if it doesn't go our way on Sunday - the mistakes that we have made have been unusual.

"It's been a crazy season and I hope we don't come to regret it."

Evans agrees new United deal

MANCHESTER UNITED boss Alex Ferguson has revealed Jonny Evans has agreed a new long-term deal with the club.

After a couple of spells on loan at Sunderland, Evans has made huge progress at Old Trafford in the last two seasons.

The Northern Ireland international has made 64 first-team appearances for United, the latest coming in Sunday's 1-0 win over the Black Cats at the Stadium of Light.

And the 22-year-old has proved himself good enough to stand in for Rio Ferdinand during the defender's increasingly frequent injury absences.

Ferguson said: "Jonny has proved himself. He has signed a new contract and helps to provide a good foundation for the club for a long time."