Chelsea the favourites as Fergie fumes at ref

Carlo Ancelotti and Sir Alex Ferguson both installed Chelsea as favourites to win the Premier League title after a 2-1 win at Manchester United sent the Londoners two points clear with five games left to play.

“Chelsea are definitely favourites now, there is no question about that,” United boss Ferguson acknowledged. “Two points clear with five games left, it’s a great position for them to be in.”

Ancelotti echoed the United manager’s comments. “Now we are the favourites, yes. That’s normal when we are back at the top of the league.

“But nothing is decided. We have to stay composed, quiet and maintain focus in our game.”

Chelsea looked comfortably in control for most of the match although there was controversy over the Didier Drogba strike which gave them a two-goal cushion with the Ivory Coast striker adding to Joe Cole’s first-half effort from a clearly offside position.

“It is very disappointing,” Ferguson said. “Chelsea were by far the better team in the first half but in the second half we did well and we were unfortunate not to get something from the game.”

A late goal from substitute Federico Macheda gave United hope of salvaging a draw at the end of the match but it was telling that the Italian teenager’s scrambled effort was the only clear chance the home side created from open play.

“At Old Trafford, we always think we can rescue it, unfortunately not today,” Ferguson added, before turning his attentions to the match officials.

“On the Drogba goal, the linesman was directly in front of him, there was not a soul near him and he gets it wrong. “In a game of that magnitude, to get that wrong, it’s very poor.”

Ferguson refused to be drawn on three debatable penalty appeals for his side but could not resist a swipe at the match referee, Mike Dean, who also denied Chelsea what appeared to be a stronger claim for a penalty than any of United’s.

“I don’t want to get into that,” Ferguson said, before adding: “When I saw it was Mike Dean I was worried.”

Ancelotti shrugged off the controversial decisions. “I never comment on the referee’s decision,” he said. “It is offside when the linesman’s flag goes up, it is a penalty when the referee blows his whistle.”

Man-of-the-match Florent Malouda admitted that United had been below their best following their exertions in the Champions League defeat by Bayern Munich which resulted in Wayne Rooney sustaining an ankle injury that has ruled him out for up to three weeks.

“We wanted to be top after this match,” Chelsea’s French winger said. “It was hard but we played really well. It means a lot after the bad week we had (when Chelsea went out of the Champions League last month). We knew we had to react and we reacted in the best possible way.

“Champions League matches take up a lot of energy and that is why we started the game so quick. We knew that if we played with a high intensity they could have some problems.”