Alex Ferguson highlights home record ahead of Chelsea match

United are unbeaten at home this season (REUTERS)

Sir Alex Ferguson is banking on "the best home record in Europe" to shove Manchester United over the Barclays Premier League title finishing line.

Although United cannot clinch a record 19th championship this weekend, few believe Sunday's Old Trafford encounter with Chelsea to be anything other than a title decider.

If Chelsea win they will go top on goal difference with two games remaining.

If United win they will be six points clear and needing a single point from fixtures against relegation candidates Blackburn and Blackpool to win the title.

Even a draw would not be a bad result for United, as it would leave them just four points off their target.

Chelsea's impressive recent form - 25 points from the last 27 - plus victories in their last three league meetings with Ferguson's men, ensures they cannot be taken lightly.

However, Ferguson's faith is reinforced by back-to-back wins in the Champions League quarter-final, plus that brilliant record on home soil, where they have dropped just two points - via an October draw with West Brom - all season.

"Our home record is probably the best in Europe," Ferguson said. "It is the reason we are there. Some of the performances at home this season have been absolutely terrific.

"Hopefully it will get us the result we want on Sunday because this is a big game. If we win, we should win the league."

Ferguson could hardly have expected to be in this situation at half-time at Stamford Bridge on March 1.

Ahead thanks to Wayne Rooney's impressive strike, United looked set to extend their advantage over the Blues to 18 points.

Instead, a couple of debatable decisions from referee Martin Atkinson assisted Chelsea in their recovery, Carlo Ancelotti's side eventually claiming a 2-1 win that has triggered a stunning return to form.

"That result was the change for them," added Ferguson, whose brutal assessment of Atkinson's performance brought him a five-match touchline ban.

"We all know the circumstances of that game and I don't need to get into that. But the outcome gave them a lift. They were out of the game and they had won it."

As Chelsea's roll gathered momentum, United continued to struggle away from Old Trafford.

They lost at Liverpool, dropped points at Newcastle and then lost to Arsenal last Sunday.

"Us losing to Arsenal has opened the door for them," Ferguson added. "But we always said it is a very difficult league.

"The Premier League is hard to win. We know because we have been involved in the championship races for 19 years."

The sight of his team struggling at the Emirates confirmed in Ferguson's mind that changes had to be made for Wednesday's Champions League semi-final with Schalke.

Part one of the plan worked to perfection as United's second string side eased through to a Champions League final meeting with Barcelona at Wembley on May 28.

Now he can only hope the concluding effort is just as effective.

"Everyone is aware of the magnitude of Sunday's game," Ferguson said. "It is one of the reasons why I picked the team I did on Wednesday.

"I wanted to give us a real chance. We will have a fresh team and that makes a difference at this time of the season."

It does mean the bulk of United's starting XI will not be difficult to guess. The same cannot be said of their opponents.

Not even a spying mission to Stamford Bridge last week for Chelsea's controversial win over Tottenham unearthed any clues.

Instead, Ferguson will expect his own players to do their jobs no matter who they end up facing.

"I have no idea what to expect from Chelsea," he said. "I was at their game last week and couldn't get anything from that.

"Drogba played the whole game so you would expect him definitely to play. But he started off wide right, then Torres went there.

"Whether they start with both of them on Sunday is difficult to say. But no matter what they do, we have the players to handle it."