Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted injuries could wreck Manchester United’s push for an unprecedented fourth successive and record-breaking 19th domestic title.
First-choice defenders Nemanja Vidic, Jonny Evans, John O’Shea, Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand and Wes Brown were all missing for the 3-0 defeat at Fulham on Saturday, forcing Ferguson to play with an unfamiliar three-man defence consisting of midfielders Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher, as well as rookie Ritchie de Laet.
The champions have now lost five Premier League games and could trail leaders Chelsea by six points if they beat West Ham on Sunday.
Ferguson conceded the injury situation was desperate and said he feared United had already lost valuable ground on Carlo Ancelotti’s men.
Referring to the title race, he told MUTV: “The way the league is at the moment I hope today is not too damaging. I hope it doesn’t cost us the league.”
On an alarming injury list, he added: “There’s no light at the end of the tunnel at the moment, that’s for sure.”
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