Manchester United have the opportunity to go five points clear at the top of the Premier League tomorrow, but our veteran winger Ryan Giggs has an opinion that the title could be decided when the Champions League kick off again next month.
After Liverpool, followed by seven points, United have won six Premier League games in row which saw them a head of the table with two extra points than Chelsea and Liverpool with a game in hand.
If United are able to win against Everton, while Liverpool and Chelsea play at Liverpool on Sunday afternoon, Sir Alex Ferguson men can change the ideas that seemed unthinkable a month ago.
United race is even more remarkable is that they achieved without Rio Ferdinand, Wayne Rooney, Patrice Evra, Wes Brown, Park Ji-Sung and Owen Hargreaves, missing at different times by injuries.
Ferguson remains cautious Rooney tendon problem of hock, but Ferdinand, Brown and the children were to win 5-0 at West Brom in midweek.
Giggs believes that the end of February is the real test for Ferguson team.
He said: “There is a long way to go and there are some good teams up there – Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Villa – it’s all close.
“The testing time will maybe come when it is the last stages of the Champions League, the FA Cup and important league games. That is when your squad becomes crucial.
“Hopefully the players we’ve had injured will all be back. All you can hope for is a strong squad to choose from and to finish the end of the season strongly.”
United were behind Liverpool and Chelsea were unable to enjoy their trip to Japan, but also in Old Trafford were surprised by the speed with which the club has a seven-point deficit to a lead. Giggs, 35, said: “We had to travel to Tokyo, but we knew if we won the tournament, it would be good for us when we come back.
“No one really capitalized on us being away and we have turned it around quicker than we expected, but we just hoped that would happen.”