Sir Alex Focused On Job In Hand

Sir Alex Ferguson insists United must concentrate on the matter in hand at Sunderland on Sunday, rather than concern themselves with events at the Etihad Stadium.

The Reds boss is focused on a tough trip to Wearside and realises it will take an epic performance from a QPR side chasing a point to clinch Barclays Premier League salvation to prevent Manchester City from winning an 18th home game out of 19.

"It's not going to be easy for us up there and we know that," he stated. "We're going there with a chance of winning the league and you know it'll never be easy. These last-day games where have a chance of winning the league, three times we've won it and once we lost it at West Ham [and when Chelsea beat Wigan]. They're not easy.

"It doesn't matter if Bolton win, QPR still have to get a point. Can it really transmit itself to players if other teams are losing? If they're down with five minutes to go or something like that but I don't think it works that way.

"I think the disappointment of City losing the game would be unbelievable and untold at this moment in time [as regards] what effect it could have on them. QPR are at the other end of the spectrum, some players could be put on the transfer list, salaries halved and things like that. It [relegation] would have a dramatic effect on the club. There's two ends of the spectrum but, at the end of the day, it doesn't matter if we don't win. We have to focus on that - that's our job."

The boss is adamant that now is not the time for major analysis about how United look unlikely to scoop a 20th title after being in pole position a few weeks ago.

"I think we can think about that after the events and analyse it properly," he insisted. "There's no point doing it now as nothing's been decided and it's the last game of the season, which is fantastic for the neutral and the media but agony for both clubs.

"We do tend to get there in the end but it looks like we're going to miss out this season. We're not looking as though it's the end of an era for us. In many ways, it's the start of one for us. The challenge will be really obvious to them [the players] now. If they lose the league, as we did with Chelsea a couple of years ago, we did something about it. Hopefully, we can do so again."