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Bruce can stop Man United
09/05/2008 18:18 - (SA)
London - Steve Bruce won three league titles as a Manchester United player. Now, as Wigan manager, he could stop the Red Devils from winning another.
United go to Wigan on Sunday - the final day of the season - tied on points with Chelsea at the top of the Premier League, but with a far better goal difference. Chelsea, which host Bolton, need Wigan to take at least a point off United.
A former United centre back and captain, Bruce promises he won't use his ties with the club to hand the title to his former manager, Alex Ferguson.
"Everybody associates me with Manchester United for obvious reasons. But we're quite insulted (at suggestions) that we're just going to roll over and hand Manchester United the title because of my connections," said Bruce, whose team have climbed to 13th place thanks to a five-game unbeaten streak, guaranteeing they will avoid relegation.
"How can I go and say that to the players after the run they've had, `Don't train tomorrow (Saturday). Forget about Saturday and when Sunday comes just roll over and let Manchester United walk all over you?' That will definitely not happen."
Bruce won three league titles and three FA Cups with United - which also face Chelsea in the May 21 Champions League final in Moscow - and is aware of how the players are able to lift their performance in important games.
Relegation
"I think Manchester United are always at their best when they have to go and win," Bruce said. "They have two cup finals...one on Sunday and one in 10 days time after that."
Ferguson said he expected a tough game from Wigan but was concerned at reports that some of the Bolton players went out celebrating the fact that they had also avoided relegation.
"People have questioned Wigan's integrity, but when you look at it, the different attitudes are quite interesting," said the United manager, who is chasing his 10th Premier League title.
"The Wigan players are coming out and saying, 'We want to beat Manchester United.' That is fine, we are a big club.
"But both teams are safe, relaxed and confident. Yet one can celebrate and the other is all keyed up to play against Manchester United."
Ferguson said he had faith in Bolton manager Gary Megson and his assistant, Archie Knox, making sure that their players would make it difficult for Chelsea to win at Stamford Bridge.
"The only thing that gives me confidence about Bolton is the manager and assistant manager," Ferguson said. "I worked with Archie Knox for many years at Aberdeen and United.
"I wish he was playing because he will not enjoy having his players out celebrating and neither will Gary Megson. It is an important game. I am confident in these two guys taking their team to Chelsea."
'Substitute'
Ferguson said striker Wayne Rooney remained doubtful for the game because of the hip injury he aggravated when he scored in United's 2-1 loss to Chelsea on April 26, the result that brought the Blues level on points. Rooney has missed United's last two games.
"Maybe I will have him as a substitute on Sunday," Ferguson said. "But he will certainly be fit for the Champions League final."
If Chelsea wins both the league title and the Champions League, it will be a major triumph for manager Avram Grant, who has had to endure hostility from the club's own fans because of the team's lack of entertaining play.
"I showed patience with the players," said the former Israel coach, who took over from Jose Mourinho in September. "I said I would not form an opinion of them in only one month. I wanted to check them for a long time, to see their behaviour.
"You check the players and they want to see what you can bring. It is normal, but I say it again, out on the pitch they have always given me everything. To create history in this club in the first year as a manager, with all the difficulties we have had this year, means a lot to me."
One season
While the title race has gone down to the final day, so has the struggle to avoid relegation.
While last-place Derby has known for weeks it's reign as a Premier League club would last only one season, Birmingham, Fulham and Reading are all trying to avoid joining the Rams in the League Championship.
Reading, which is 18th with 33 points, should have the easiest match when it visits Derby - which is sure to set a record for the lowest points total in a season. It has 11 and can't match the previous worst of 15 by Sunderland two seasons ago.
Fulham, who are out of the relegation zone in 17th place with 33 points, go to FA Cup finalist Portsmouth, which may be tempted to rest some of their top players ahead of the May 17 match against Cardiff at Wembley.
Next-to-last Birmingham, which were promoted last season and have 32 points, hosts seventh-place Blackburn.
Sunday's other games are Middlesbrough-Manchester City, Sunderland-Arsenal, Tottenham- Liverpool, West Ham-Aston Villa, Everton-Newcastle.
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