Triple threat for the Premier League title

Last season saw a two-horse race for the title between Sir Alex Ferguson and Roberto Mancini, which ultimately ended in a photo finish as Manchester City scored a last gasp winner to snatch the Premier League crown on goal difference.

The Italian manager played the mind games with Manchester United’s veteran boss as well as anyone since Jose Mourinho was in charge at Stamford Bridge.  During his time at Chelsea, ‘The Special One’ came out on top in his first two battles with Ferguson, winning the Premier League title on each occasion.  Talk of the current Real Madrid manager’s return to England’s top flight rages on, with some pundits speculating that he could be the person who eventually replaces the Scottish manager at Old Trafford.

Somebody who wasn’t quite as successful in avoiding Ferguson’s provocation was new Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez, who makes his return to English football for the first time since he departed Anfield in 2010. Unable to prevent the United boss from getting inside his head, Benitez infamously launched into a rant about Ferguson during a press conference, where he stated many ‘facts’ supporting his belief that the Scotsman could say and do whatever he wanted without punishment.  The Spanish manager’s behaviour led to many pundits claiming that Benitez was “cracking up” under the stress of Liverpool’s bid for their first Premier League title.

Despite taking four points off their bitter rivals United, including a remarkable 4-1 victory at Old Trafford, Liverpool ended the season in second place.  This may have been the Reds’ best league season since 2002, but finishing as runners up to Ferguson’s resilient side was little consolation for the Anfield faithful.

With barely half a season each, Andre Villas-Boas and Roberto Di Matteo never really had time to develop a rivalry with United’s antagonistic chief.  But, considering Rafael Benitez’s intense history with Sir Alex Ferguson, we may now have three managers at each other throats in the fight for the Premier League title. 

That battle starts this weekend at Stamford Bridge, as Roberto Mancini’s Manchester City attempt to spoil the new Chelsea manager’s big day.

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