Man U's Ferguson says Chelsea can't win title without Scolari

LONDON — Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson believes Chelsea has thrown away any chance of winning the Premier League title by firing Luiz Felipe Scolari, and has singled out Liverpool as the main rival for his team's third consecutive title.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich lost patience with the Brazilian World Cup winner last week after just seven months following the club's slide to fourth in the league standings.

Guus Hiddink has replaced Scolari until the end of the season in an attempt to halt the decline and close the gap on leader Manchester United.

The defending champions were looking to open up a five-point lead over Liverpool — and 10 over Chelsea — later Wednesday when they hosted Fulham at Old Trafford.

"I think they have played into our hands and that the title race now is going to be between ourselves and Liverpool," Ferguson said in the matchday magazine. "However, I shall be keeping a wary eye on Aston Villa, who seem to have picked up the baton from Arsenal."

Scolari was given just 36 games to prove himself in his first club job in Europe despite being a proven winner in Brazil. He guided the country to its fifth World Cup title in 2002, and won the Copa Libertadores with both Gremio and Palmeiras.

"I was shocked that Chelsea should part so soon with a manager of such great experience and proven success as 'Phil' Scolari," Ferguson said. "Their haste is a reflection of the sad way the game is going, with everyone from owners, the board members, the supporters and the media demanding instant success and showing absolutely no patience in the pursuit of their ambition."

As he closes in on an 11th English championship in his 22 years at Old Trafford, Ferguson's longevity shows what can be achieved with a stable management structure. Chelsea, meanwhile, has had 12 managers in the same period.

Jose Mourinho, who delivered Chelsea's last title in 2005, was fired in September 2007, while Avram Grant went the following May, making way for Scolari.

"I would have thought it self-evident that winning prizes comes with stability and long-term planning," the 67-year-old Ferguson said. "Yet so often, when a club is faced with a few problems, wisdom flies out of the window in the hope that a new man can bring about a quick fix.