RIO FERDINAND is convinced Manchester United’s quest for Club World Cup glory can provide an added boost to their Premier League title chances.
Until Ferdinand effectively declared Arsenal non-runners in the championship stakes, most discussion around United’s presence in Japan has centred on the negative impact it could have on domestic matters.
Jet-lag from a 12-hour flight and nine-hour time difference, fixture congestion created by another missed league game and extra demands being placed on the squad have all been cited as drawbacks to participation in a seven-team competition that had already been reduced by three before the Red Devils left Heathrow on Sunday night.
But Ferdinand is putting forward a counter-argument. It might not be nice and warm by United’s team hotel looking out onto the Pacific, but it is certainly a change of scene.
And that different outlook could effect a massive change by the time United return home to face Stoke on Boxing Day.
“There are two ways of looking at it,” Ferdinand said. “You can start talking about it being a tiring trip all the time or you can think of it more positively as an escape from the pressure cooker situation of the Premier League.
“This could be a mental and psychological respite. When we get back our minds will be fresh and hopefully that will have an effect on our bodies.”
Looking relaxed and confident, Ferdinand then turned his attention to the title race, or rather Arsenal’s lack of participation in it.
In hindsight, Arsenal’s draw at Middlesbrough was the second best result among the ’big four’ in a second winless weekend in a month.
Yet Arsenal remain eight points behind leaders Liverpool, seven adrift of second-placed Chelsea and trail United by two, while the Reds have a game in hand.
So, while Ferdinand respects the Gunners and accepts winning the championship is not completely out of their reach, he is certain they will drop away.
“It is not beyond Arsenal, but it is my personal opinion that it will be between the other three this season,” said the 30-year-old centre-half.
“At the moment it looks like being nip and tuck, but usually, from Christmas onwards, the teams who are going to be there at the end start pulling away.
“I can see that happening this season. I presume ourselves, Chelsea and Liverpool will pull away, then it will be down to two and finally one.”
However, nothing can be taken for granted. On Saturday it seemed United had blown an excellent chance to close on Liverpool, who had been held at home by Hull, when they failed to beat Tottenham at White Hart Lane.
But on Sunday, as they waited to board their plane, United heard Chelsea had drawn with West Ham at Stamford Bridge, confusing the title picture even further.
“It looks like teams will drop points,” said Ferdinand. “Hull going to Anfield and getting a draw is a massive result for them. West Ham getting a draw at Chelsea was a surprise as well.”
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