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- Dubai 04:27 05:45 12:20 15:47 18:49 20:07
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson (R) speaks to kit man Albert Morgan before the UEFA Europa League round of 16 first leg football match between Manchester United and Athletico Bilbao at Old Trafford in Manchester, north-west England on March 8 2012. (AFP)
Manchester City will have to blame the other managers of the Barclays Premier League for pushing Sir Alex Ferguson to ensure that Manchester United win this year’s title at any cost.
If there is one thing that Sir Alex loves to do it is to prove the majority opinion wrong.
This morning, the wily old Scot and one of the greatest football managers of the modern age, woke up to find out that most of his fellow managers in the Premier League expected Manchester City to win the league.
This, despite United being top of the league right now and overhauling a seven-point lead that City had until recently.
A survey of the league’s 20 managers carried out by Barclays, title sponsor of the League Managers' Association, showed that the majority agreed that City (67 per cent) will pip Manchester United (33 per cent) to win their first championship since 1968.
Fergie was not fancied as a manager either with Swansea's Brendan Rodgers and Norwich chief Paul Lambert way ahead of him, City's Roberto Mancini and Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger as best managers of the season.
Three quarters of the managers rate Harry Redknapp's Spurs as the most entertaining team, even though they have scored less goals than United, City and Arsenal.
City keeper Joe Hart (69%), defender Vincent Kompany (88%) and midfielder David Silva (31%) were rated the best in their respective positions.
Robin van Persie (25%) is the best striker.
United winger Ryan Giggs (50%) is considered the most influential player in Premier League history and Newcastle ace Demba Ba (56%) is the best summer signing.
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