Manchester Utd v PortsmouthPortsmouth's manager, Harry Redknapp, travels to Old Trafford for tonight's Premier League game against Manchester United with the uneasy feeling that Alex Ferguson has created a squad who are close to matching the treble-winners of nine years ago.
United have an opportunity to repeat the feat of 1999 because they are still in the race to win the league and have progressed in the FA Cup and the Champions League. And Redknapp believes it is a mark of Ferguson's quality that he continues to deliver teams capable of competing at the very highest level.
"Alex has done a fantastic job there, hasn't he?" he said. "I was at Bournemouth when I first met him 20-odd years ago and the team he's put together now could be one of his best. He's up there with all the great managers - Cloughie, Shankly, Busby, all the greats.
"Alex is not far from having another team as good as the one which had David Beckham, Roy Keane, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs in his prime and won the treble. With Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand and the rest it's another fantastic team. You can't write off Chelsea and certainly not Arsenal but, for me, United are favourites to take the title again."
Redknapp expects Portsmouth's trip to Old Trafford to be difficult. "(But) we will go up there and try to give them a right go. We've got a good squad now even without the four lads (Pape Bouba Diop, Nwankwo Kanu, John Utaka and Sulley Muntari) away in the African Nations Cup.
"Lassana Diarra has come here from Arsenal and shown already that he's world class. We have an outstanding goalkeeper in David James and a top full back in Glen Johnson, who I think should both play for England. We've also got a terrific loan signing in Milan Baros, who has every chance of making his debut, and Sol Campbell should be fit to come back into defence, so we're not lacking quality."
Baros admits he joined Portsmouth for the chance to play in English football again. "Speaking the language and knowing what is going on makes it easier and I'll be living in Portsmouth. I spoke to Patrik Berger and he said it's a good club and a good manager."
United's midfielder Michael Carrick is aiming to take a "defining" step towards the treble this week with a hat-trick of victories. United have already beaten Tottenham Hotspur - and face them again in the league at White Hart Lane on Saturday - and the midfielder believes it is vital to pick up three points against Portsmouth.
"Weeks like this can define a season," he said. "If we can get the three wins then we will be in good shape. Of course you do not want to get too carried away because there are tough games ahead."
