United may be closing in on a hat-trick of Barclays Premier League titles, but Benitez is adamant his arch-rival Sir Alex Ferguson should be casting an anxious glance towards Anfield after Liverpool’s recent emergence.

Benitez insisted that increasing harmony off the pitch and progress on it, makes his side Ferguson’s biggest concern.

Reflecting on the fact that Chelsea are once more having to search for a new manager, Benitez said: ‘There is a stability about us now and the fact that the manager is staying is another positive message. I feel it is fair to say that we are now best equipped to challenge United.

‘We are better placed than the others and I have confidence we can still pip United for the league this season.

‘Even if we just fall short, the experience of going so close is going to be fantastic for the players and staff. Next season they will be going into games determined not to drop a single point.

‘It will be a different mentality, a titlewinning one, and it will keep us up at the top. United can be sure this season was no one-off.’

Despite the current global economic crisis, United have negotiated a string of new partnerships, further enhancing their claims to be the biggest club in the world.

The latest deal, the first between United and an Indian company, was confirmed at an Old Trafford ceremony attended by Sir Alex Ferguson and chief executive David Gill and will give Airtel customers across India and Sri Lanka access to United content, including matches and interviews.

According to a report in the British broadsheet The Times, Premier League club Chelsea have rewarded Michael Ballack with a new contract.

The midfielder was set to become a free agent at the end of this season, however, the Blues have apparently handed him a one year extension worth £121,000-a-week.

It is thought that the west London outfit will soon confirm the deal, which keeps the 32-year-old at Stamford Bridge for a fourth consecutive season.

It is also claimed that the 92-time capped Germany international, who has scored 41 goals for his country, is one of the club’s top earners, lagging just behind John Terry and Frank Lampard but ahead of Didier Drogba.

The news could be seen as Chelsea showing support to a player who could be punished by UEFA for confronting referee Tom Henning Ovrebo for failing to award a penalty in the Champions League semi-final second leg at home to Barcelona on Wednesday evening.

Since signing for Chelsea on a free transfer from German giants Bayern Munich, Ballack has scored 20 goals in 119 appearances.

Chelsea interim manager, Guus Hiddink, has stated that it will be very tough for him to leave the club at the end of the season.

The Dutchman was appointed as temporary boss at Stamford Bridge, after the sacking of Luis Felipe Scolari, and has guided the club to the FA Cup final and Champions League semi-final, as well as making a push for the Premier League title this season.

The Russia coach has always stated his intentions to leave the Blues at the end of the season, and has said he will retire after the World Cup next year in South Africa.

The 62-year-old has praised the team’s passion for the game, in the wake of their Champions League semi-final defeat to Barcelona.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Hiddink said, “It’ll be tough to leave it all, that’s true.

“I love to work with this club. I’m not defending where they crossed the line, but the way the boys reacted against Barcelona [in the Champions League] shows that there is such a very strong desire and personality in this team.

“They like to fight for their chances. I’ve worked with them with a lot of joy.

“I’ve enjoyed working
with this team. The players here aren’t just enjoying a good life, putting their feet up in luxury.

“They want to perform at a big club. That makes it very enjoyable and difficult to leave. I feel as if I’ve been intrinsically involved with this club.

“I could have come here and just gone through the motions, done a daily routine, for three months. But that’s not the way I like to work.

“Okay, sure, you don’t feel as if you’re a part of things on day one but I had that after a week here. In the end, though, we part. That’s just how it is. Let’s not be too dramatic. That’s life.”

The former PSV Eindhoven boss has just four more games left in charge of the Blues, one of which will give him the chance to win the FA Cup against Everton on May 30.

Milito has been linked with Manchester rivals United and City recently and agent Fernando Hidalgo is in no mood to dampen transfer talk after the 29-year-old’s impressive season in Serie A.

Reports yesterday suggested the 29-year-old is on the verge of sealing a £14.5million move to Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan, but Hidalgo said: “Is Milito going to Inter? I’m in London and I’m talking to several clubs.

“I can’t say which clubs they are I can only say that they are important.

“Is it true that I’ve met directors from Manchester United?

“If I’m here there’s a reason, there are interesting offers for him in the Premier League and we are evaluating them.

“Of course Milito wants to go to England otherwise I wouldn’t be here.”

Ahead of their clash at Manchester United, De Jong said: “You can see that in the city, a lot of local fans, more blue fans than red fans.

“If I take a cab, the driver is always a City fan.

“If I go to the shopping centre, all I see are City shirts. There are so many City fans. I was astonished when I first arrived because everyone was a blue fan.

“And I was like, ‘How does that work? United are the biggest club in the world, aren’t they?’

“People would explain to me, ‘That’s just a global thing, the real workers’ club is Manchester City’. And it’s true, it’s a working club.

“The people in Manchester can relate to this club because they are working people.

“They are very proud of it. That’s why Manchester City is so big locally, not worldwide, but definitely locally.”

Evra admitted: “There’s an extra edge to these games.

“Even those of us not from Manchester can understand what it means. City raise their game against us so they’re always difficult games. I made my debut against them and if I’m honest it was a bad moment for me.

“But I learnt a lot about the derby and how bad it felt to lose.

“It’s all about getting three points and getting closer to the title.”

Argentina coach Diego Maradona is unlikely to make any friends in west London after revealing he danced around in jubilation when Barcelona ended Chelsea’s Champions League dream.

Andres Iniesta grabbed the goal which dumped Chelsea out of Europe on Wednesday night. The game was marred by controversy as a number of Blues players reacted in a sour manner.

Maradona played for Barcelona during the 1980s and he still holds a place in his heart for the Spanish side.

“I played in Barcelona and I celebrated plenty when Iniesta scored against Chelsea in the Champions League semi-final,” Maradona told TYC Sport.

‘El Pibe De Oro’ hasn’t always been admired in England following his infamous ‘hand of God goal’ in the World Cup 1986. His latest words are unlikely to help his cause.

The Blaugrana clash with Manchester United in the final on May 27 in Rome, hoping to repeat their 2006 Champions League success.

Inter Milan boss Jose Mourinho is convinced Manchester United are “afraid” of his players ahead of tonight’s Champions League tie.

Mourinho said: “I don’t think they are coming here to play eye to eye, to try to win the game here.

“I have paid great attention to every match in the previous year in the Champions League. Man United changed. They will go to this game with a different approach to normal.

“I know Sir Alex doesn’t like the word — and a team like Man United doesn’t like the word — so I’m not saying they are afraid of us. But they respect us. They know they can lose.”

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is expecting Italian fans to see the true Cristiano Ronaldo tonight against Inter Milan.

Ferguson said: “When we came here two years ago and played AC Milan in the semi-final, we saw the immaturity of the boy. But he is a different player now.

“I want to see maturity from Ronaldo and everyone else because of the atmosphere and the competition.”