Filed under: Chelsea, Manchester United, Premier League, Football
It has been claimed this is the worst Premier League we've seen for years, with many observers believing the standards of the leading clubs have dropped.Agree with that or not, you would not expect to find the league leaders at this tail end of the season needing just one win to all but seal the title given their dismal away record .
But that's exactly the position Manchester United find themselves in ahead of Sunday's title-deciding visit of Chelsea.
Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted himself he as baffled as anyone by their form on the road which has been littered with draws against some teams they would usually blow away season after season in their quest for trophies.
Just a paltry five wins all season, including a defeat against struggling Wolves on the way, is hardly title-winning material.
It means Manchester United will have to fall back on their formidable home record, described by their manager as being "the best in Europe" when Chelsea head to Old Trafford.
It has been United's get-out clause all season long.
Whenever they have needed a result following a setback on the road, home comforts have bailed them out and, incredibly, United have dropped just two points on their own patch all term.
But it can't keep rescuing them out of a hole - and Fergie will know that more than anything else ahead of the biggest game of the season.
"Our home record is fantastic, it's probably the best in Europe," said Ferguson. "It has to be again as it's a big game and I must say some of our performances at home have been absolutely terrific. So hopefully we can get the result we want.
"Our home form has been an advantage to us this season.
"That's the reason we are there as if you look at our away record it's not been great and we are aware of that."
Man United know there has been a big shift in momentum.
Having seen Chelsea eat away at their 15-point buffer at the summit, they have everything to lose now with the pressure on them to prove they are not chokers in the race to land a record 19th domestic title.
Chelsea, who won at the Theatre of Dreams last season, have the big-game players in the likes of Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba and Fernando Torres who are capable of beating any side and know exactly what it takes to win crunch games when it matters most.
And Nani's pre-match claim that Manchester United's Champions League quarter-final over their rivals will have a psychological effect is nothing more than clumsy mind games.
So how ironic it would be if a costly slip, at the wrong time, happened at a place where they have become almost invincible.
Ferguson added: "Our result at Arsenal has certainly brought us an awareness of how important this game is. It has opened the door for them.
"Everyone is aware of the magnitude of this game. If we win, we should win the league."
It sounds simple. But if they do hand over the initiative at this late stage, don't expect Chelsea to be so generous.
And it will all come down to one thing when they look back at what went wrong - and that's failing to find a cure to their travel sickness all season.
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