Win or bust for Ancelotti’s men at Portsmouth

Put simply, United will be crowned champions for the fourth consecutive season if they win their final seven games. That might sound like a demanding programme, especially with the Champions League adding to the intensity of the coming weeks, but it's all familiar territory for Sir Alex Ferguson and his men.

At this stage last season, after an unexpected defeat at Fulham, they began a nine-match run — eight wins and a draw with Arsenal — that secured the Premier League title. Along the way they removed Porto and the Gunners from the Champions League.

United have done it all before and for the first time this season are in charge of their own destiny after yesterday's 2-1 win over Liverpool. With Wayne Rooney on fire and Edwin van der Sar, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Gary Neville and Patrice Evra all back in defensive harmony, United are fully equipped for the challenges ahead.

You couldn't say that about Chelsea. Desperate to recover poise and confidence after their Champions League exit against Inter Milan, they were exposed at Blackburn by the defensive frailties that have gnawed at their well-being all season.

A goal in front after five minutes, it was Paulo Ferriera's failure to deal with a high cross to the back post that gave El-Hadji Diouf the chance to head the equaliser that casts serious doubt on Chelsea's prospects of regaining the title they last won under Jose Mourinho.

Chelsea have conceded too many sloppy goals this season. In Mourinho's two title-winning seasons, they conceded 15 goals (2005) and 22 (2006).
This season they have let in 28 in the Premier League — due in part to injuries to Petr Cech, Ashley Cole and Ricardo Carvalho and the undermining of John Terry's confidence following revelations about his private life and his loss of the England captaincy.

All is not lost for Chelsea but it will be if they fail to win at Portsmouth on Wednesday — their game in hand — when the Avram Grant factor may turn out to be as significant as the Mourinho factor in last week's Champions League defeat.
Another loss to another former manager in Grant would leave them four points behind United with the same number of games played.

Remember, too, they visit Old Trafford on Easter Saturday, as well as Spurs and Liverpool. Arsenal have the easiest finish of the big three, with trips to Tottenham and Blackburn providing Arsene Wenger with his biggest challenges.

The London clubs are both hoping that United buckle under the pressure of chasing the Premier title and the Champions League. Chelsea, of course, no longer have the distraction of Europe, while Arsenal's chances of toppling United could depend on how they fare against Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-finals.