In theory Manchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson should be crowned Premier League Champions for the 10th time in two weeks but if they somehow fail - we’ll never forget the Stamford Bridge blunder.

When you’ve had the success that SAF has had over the last two decades it’s not easy to criticize because obviously something is working. However, who in their right mind leaves out the current best player in the world, Cristiano Ronaldo, with the defining match of a nine-month season on the line. It is without a doubt the biggest gamble SAF has ever taken.

Can you imagine Bill Belichick saying to Tom Brady ‘take a breather today’ with the Super Bowl up for grabs or Phil Jackson asking Kobe Bryant to sit out game 6 of the NBA Finals as game 7 is a day away – its never going to happen – except on Saturday for some inexplicable reason it did.

Before I delve into possible reasons for this ‘brain ####’ lets first give credit where credit is due. Chelsea fully deserved their victory and Avram Grant can finally breathe easy for a day or two.

The Blues were better in every department even though Michael Ballack and Didier Drogba seemed ready to roll around the Bridge pitch scratching each other’s eyes out. The reaction of Michael Essien as the two of them played kindergarten snatching the ball from their hands at a free kick late in the second half was priceless.

And to think that we’d almost written them off after that horrible 1-1 tie with Wigan – now that’s all forgotten and in a rich ironic twist, United, have to go to the JJB on the last day of the season and in all likelihood win.

If the Blues do happen to #### the title it will surely be one of the most unlikely victories in the history of England’s top flight.

But back to Sir Alex and why he sat Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez who have scored a combined 56 goals on the bench…

The obvious reason is that they’re being saved for Tuesday night and the return leg with Barcelona in the Champions League but it can’t be that simple can it?

I can’t help but feel that he’s being too clever for his own good (just look at the trouble Rafa Benitez has given himself by messing around with his team) and if he’s concerned that they’re tired I’d also be very surprised. These kids are 23 and 24 respectively – they don’t get tired and I can’t imagine that they were happy sitting on the pitch for the biggest domestic game of the campaign either.

Football is a confidence game and Ronaldo and Tevez possess that quality in ####s most of the time however the Nou Camp experience may have dented that slightly. What you need in that situation is another game not an opportunity to sit and stew.

Ferguson must know that victories cannot be guaranteed in the Premiership and with the points dropped at Boro and Blackburn now looming large, West Ham, cannot be taken for granted as they’ve owned the Red Devils recently.

Sir Alex famously coined this time of the season ‘squeaky bum time’ however if anyone has a ‘squeaky bum’ right now it has to be the Old Trafford supreme. United have been the favorites for both big trophies for months and the pressure just maybe beginning to tell – decisions like Saturday’s prove that.

At the end of the day I still fully expect United to do that double but as we’ve seen football can be a cruel game. You know Arsenal have been the best team of the year and won nothing, United have been the most consistent side and could yet win nothing while Chelsea have been dogged, unattractive and stubborn yet they could end up winning everything.

I hope SAF hasn’t spent the weekend second-guessing himself however that is the curse of the man who likes to gamble.

Until then, I’ll see you at the far post.