Utd Kids Wife

Chelsea took advantage of Wayne Rooney’s absence to move into the Premier League summit with a controversial 2-1 win over Manchester United.

Goals from Joe Cole and Didier Drogba meant United and Chelsea swapped positions in the league with United looking tired from their midweek excursion in Europe.

A late effort from sub Federico Macheda meant United fought until the end and yet on another day, United might have had one of the three debatable penalty appeals going their way.

United kept their lineup despite Rooney’s absense with Dimitar Berbatov – who once again flattered to deceive – being at the top end of an attacking setup made up of Ryan Giggs and Antonio Valencia.

“We wanted to be top after this match. It was hard but we played really well,” Ancelotti said.

“Now we are the favourites. That’s normal when we are back at the top of the league, but nothing is decided.”

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson said: “Five games left, they’re two points ahead and four goals better than us – they’re in the driving seat.

“Chelsea are favourites, there’s no question. I’m certain we’ll respond but we could win the next five games and not win the title.”

Chelsea took the lead in the 20th minute when Cole back-flicked Malouda’s cross past Edwin van der Sar from close-range.

Drogba came on as a substitute and increased Chelsea’s lead in highly controversial circumstances in the 79th minute when the striker rifled in Kalou’s pass even though he was quite clearly offside.

United got one back two minutes later as Macheda deflected the ball past Petr Cech despite Chelsea appeals for handball.

“At Old Trafford, we always think we can rescue it, unfortunately not today,” Ferguson added, before turning his attentions to the match officials.

“On the Drogba goal, the linesman was directly in front of him, there was not a soul near him and he gets it wrong.

“In a game of that magnitude, to get that wrong, it’s very poor.”