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As
Alex Ferguson likes to say, it is ‘squeaky bum time’ as the season
enters the home stretch. With six games to go, six points clear atop
the table, the Red Devils have to take the three points when they host
Everton at Old Trafford on Saturday. And with a trip to Germany to face
Schalke 04 in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final tie
on Tuesday, the importance of taking three points from Everton seems
more magnified.

In their previous
meeting this season, United gave away a two-goal lead in added time for
a famous 3-3 draw as Everton scored two quick goals through Tim Cahill
and Mikel Arteta to spark wild scenes of celebration at Goodison Park.
Since then it has been a season of injuries for Everton with one of
their best players, Steven Pienaar being sold to Tottenham Hotspurs. It
will also be remembered that Everton manager David Moyes was charged
with misconduct after he confronted the referee of that match, Martin
Atkinson following a goal-bound move was truncated by the referee’s
final whistle.

Ferguson was
disappointed with United’s defending then but he was more concerned
with a failure to convert a host of chances – and that will be the same
stern words the Scotsman will be uttering to his players following the
0-0 draw at Newcastle on Tuesday following a myriad of missed chances
especially from Ryan Giggs.

Everton though have
regained some form in the last 10 weeks, and go into the game, having
won five and drawn two of their last seven Premier League matches. They
also have the extra motivation of knowing that a win will take them
above Liverpool and into a Europa Cup spot.

Chelsea still in the hunt

The Blues have
climbed into second spot on the league standings with six points and
six goals from their last two matches while Manchester United and
Arsenal have faltered. They now sit six points from United and lead
Arsenal on goal difference. Though Carlo Ancelotti, Chelsea manager has
made it very clear that he does not believe that his charges can reel
in United, the players are hoping that Manchester United’s European
adventure will take off some of their edge in the league.

Saturday’s match against the Hammers is the second of three consecutive home matches before the trip to Old Trafford on May 8.

And Florent
Malouda, back in the goals, with three goals in the last two matches,
believes the Blues must continue to apply pressure to the top team but
they must stay grounded.

He said on
chelseafc.com that, “The title race is open for the three teams and
even though Arsenal drew; we are only second because of the goal
difference.

“We have no choice
but to win every game to put pressure on Man United. They have to play
at Arsenal but we have to play our part by winning our games. We have
to stay humble; we know where we are coming from. We are out of the
Champions League now and we have to give everything until the end of
the season.” Though giving everything may not be enough to save
Ancelotti’s job. West Ham are desperate for points but it is hard to
see Avram Grant’s side getting any favours at Stamford Bridge.

Expectations of another Clasico

No prizes for
guessing what Jose Mourinho will do in this game – he will rest most of
the players that played 120 minutes against Barcelona in the Copa del
Rey triumph on Wednesday. Having won Real’s first trophy in two years,
the ‘Special One’ may have conceded the La Liga title to Barcelona, but
his side can still achieve ‘La Decima’ this season. Winning a 10th UEFA
Champions League title has been a consuming obsession for Madrid and
achieving that feat at the expense of their fiercest rivals can only
bring unbridled joy.

They return to the
Mestalla, venue of Wednesday’s victory to face Valencia, who are almost
guaranteed a Champions League slot – so expect the Blaugrana to take it
easy but ‘Los Che’ will want to avenge a 2-0 loss suffered at the
Santiago Bernabeu in December.

Barcelona, on the other hand, should get back to winning ways when
they confront Osasuna on Saturday. But there are many questions that
Pep Guardiola will have to answer. Will he rest his star players
especially Lionel Messi? Will David Villa start after not scoring in 10
consecutive league matches? All this will be playing on Guardiola’s
mind as he prepares his team for another ‘chess’ game with Jose
Mourinho in the first leg of the Champions Legaue on Wednesday. Club
captain, Carles Puyol is in a race to be fit for the match.