Manchester United has a simple task for the remainder of the premier league season: pick up points without overusing top players. Sir Alex Ferguson's team has solid 12 point lead in the premier league championship and can clinch the championship with eight more victories in the remaining 12 games.
With just three losses and two draws in 26 games, it seems like there is little Ferguson's club cannot do. However, the focus must remain on the other major tournaments that the team is currently contesting. Manchester still has a chance to win the FA Cup and Champions League and must give its players some rest in preparation for those heavyweight tilts. The team learned this week that defender Phil Jones is unlikely ready to play against Real Madrid in a couple of weeks and it seems that Wayne Rooney will be out against the Queens Park Rangers this weekend.
"[Rooney] has been on medicine and hopefully he will start training today, but I wouldn't think he would be available on Saturday,'' said Ferguson.
Manchester takes on the last place Queens Park Rangers. Nothing has gone right for QPR this season. With 17 points, the team is four points behind 19th place and a full seven points out of 17th place; if they are to avoid relegation the Rangers must find a way to close this gap and sustain it through the end of the year. Manager Harry Redknapp has set his sights on reaching 20 points first and then establishing bigger goals in the final 12 matches. "It's a big gap," Redknapp stated. "We've got to try and close it. We've got to go on a run. We probably need 20 points."
He added, "I haven't thought about going down. I'm thinking about staying up, winning games. The end of the season is way off for me...I just have belief that we can do it. If I stop believing, then everyone will stop believing. There are 12 games to go and lots of points to play for. Six points [in two games] can turn things around quickly."
These two teams met on Nov. 24 when Manchester won 3-1.
Predictions: United coasts to a 4-0 win.
Start Time: 10 AM EST
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