Sir Alex's Title Power

The players may have done the hard work on the pitch to get Manchester United close to claiming a 20th league title, but Sir Bobby Charlton feels much of the turnaround at the top of the table is down to Sir Alex Ferguson's influence.

For much of the season the Reds have played the role of chasers in the title race, behind Manchester City. But fortunes have changed for both sides in recent weeks with United taking over pole position and moving to within just two wins of reclaiming the championship crown.

Sir Bobby has been hugely impressed by the team's recovery since the 6-1 derby defeat back in October and he has paid tribute to Sir Alex's ability to inspire his players since that awful day.

"So much credit has to go to Alex and his coaches for having United involved in the title race again this season," explained Sir Bobby in his United Review column.

"At the start of every campaign you want to avoid injuries and suspensions, and United have had such incredible misfortune with injuries that it's really staggering to be in the position we're in.

"There's been so much said about Alex - especially this season, with him passing his 25th anniversary with the club - that it's hard to add anything new. He's just marvellous, and the way he lifts everyone around him is incredible.

"The best example of that is in the reaction to City's 6-1 win at Old Trafford earlier this season. It shocked everybody associated with the club and it's certainly something you hope will never happen again.

"There's a part of you that would like to set the record straight with a similar win one day. But to come back from that result so strongly speaks volumes for how influential he is."

Sir Bobby was part of the United team that narrowly lost out on title glory to the Blues back in the 1967/68 season. Although it was hugely disappointing, he says winning the European Cup soon after helped ease the pain and, in turn, stole the spotlight from City.

"City hadn't won the league for a long time and they were so keen to win it back," recalls Sir Bobby. "They performed really well to take the title from us on the final day of the season, and I have to say they deserved to win it. It really was a great performance.

"I remember, though, going to a function with Mike Summerbee a few days after we'd won the European Cup at Wembley – three weeks after City had won the league - and Mike was half-laughing when he said: 'You always find a way to beat us, don't you?'

"The European Cup was the most important trophy you could win, and it meant so much for us to win it that it was all anybody was talking about. Unfortunately for City, it overshadowed their achievement so soon after they'd done it."