• Premier League

Docherty believes Utd are far too strong for Chelsea

Harry Harris, ESPNsoccernet
September 17, 2011
Tommy Docherty doesn't fancy Chelsea's chances against Manchester United © PA Photos
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Tommy Docherty, the only man to have managed both Chelsea and Manchester United, has written off the Blues' chances in the Premier League title race and predicts a win for United at Old Trafford on Sunday.

And Docherty believes Manchester City are now the only team capable of matching United - but only if manager Roberto Mancini drops in-form striker Edin Dzeko and pairs Argentine duo Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero.

As for Arsenal, "with their defence" they will be lucky to finish seventh.

Outspoken Docherty, who guided Chelsea to the League Cup in 1965 and United to the FA Cup in 1977, believes the title is destined for Manchester and Sir Alex Ferguson's team will prove their credentials with victory at the weekend.

Docherty told ESPNsoccernet: "I think United will win the game on Sunday because Chelsea are going through a transitional spell at the moment with their new manager and an evolving team.

"Chelsea's biggest problem, as we all know, is how to get Fernando Torres scoring again because unfortunately he has lost the knack and he will have to find it soon or Chelsea's season could be over before it has begun.

"Of course as soon as you start to write someone off they prove you wrong, so it wouldn't surprise me if Torres scored at Old Trafford. But even if he did, I cannot see Chelsea winning there."

In the longer term, former Scotland international Docherty believes the main challenge will come from United's neighbours at Eastlands.

"City are the team for me that can challenge United and certainly not Arsenal. The title will end up in Manchester for sure and it could be City but they still have a way to go," Docherty said.

"City need to pair Tevez up front with Aguero, who really is world class, and Tevez is a far better partner for him than Dzeko. They could be contenders with those two up front that's for sure.

"As for Arsenal, I don't see them in the top six, not with that defence."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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