Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson admits he bristled when Tottenham coach Martin Jol said he thought it was a good time to play them prior to yesterday's 2-1 win at White Hart Lane.
United clearly intend to prolong the Premiership title race after a battling performance against Tottenham which saw Wayne Rooney, who else, score both their goals.
According to Ferguson, however, it was Spurs manager Jol who involuntarily provided the incentive for this United victory.
"I heard Martin Jol on the radio saying on Saturday that it was probably a good time to play us and I thought 'oh, really?"' said Ferguson.
"It keeps the fans interested and keeps everybody at the club interested and keeps the season bubbling away."
United now play Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on April 29 with the chance of taking a race which weeks ago looked all but done into May.
But if United, who have now won 10 out of their last 11 matches and live to push Chelsea right to the mathematical limit, were never at their best then it was easy to understand why Jol was cursing his luck.
For a start he began the day by discovering England central defender Ledley King had fractured a metatarsal in his left foot, an injury which looks likely to keep him out for the rest of the season and threatens his dream of playing in the World Cup.
Then he saw his defenders shoot themselves in the foot, so to speak, gifting both goals to United.
"I think we punished ourselves," said Jol. "I can't remember a game in which we played so well and we're still 2-0 down. The first goal was lack of experience and then they had a break.
"It is a big disappointment because we had five chances before that. Even the central defenders had chances. We thought this would be a big day for us.
"We made some mistakes but the first 20 minutes was the best since I have been here. I really thought we could have got a point. But you cannot give away goals against top sides."
United clearly intend to prolong the Premiership title race after a battling performance against Tottenham which saw Wayne Rooney, who else, score both their goals.
According to Ferguson, however, it was Spurs manager Jol who involuntarily provided the incentive for this United victory.
"I heard Martin Jol on the radio saying on Saturday that it was probably a good time to play us and I thought 'oh, really?"' said Ferguson.
"It keeps the fans interested and keeps everybody at the club interested and keeps the season bubbling away."
United now play Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on April 29 with the chance of taking a race which weeks ago looked all but done into May.
But if United, who have now won 10 out of their last 11 matches and live to push Chelsea right to the mathematical limit, were never at their best then it was easy to understand why Jol was cursing his luck.
For a start he began the day by discovering England central defender Ledley King had fractured a metatarsal in his left foot, an injury which looks likely to keep him out for the rest of the season and threatens his dream of playing in the World Cup.
Then he saw his defenders shoot themselves in the foot, so to speak, gifting both goals to United.
"I think we punished ourselves," said Jol. "I can't remember a game in which we played so well and we're still 2-0 down. The first goal was lack of experience and then they had a break.
"It is a big disappointment because we had five chances before that. Even the central defenders had chances. We thought this would be a big day for us.
"We made some mistakes but the first 20 minutes was the best since I have been here. I really thought we could have got a point. But you cannot give away goals against top sides."
