Manchester United is in crisis -- and things could get worse.
In the span of five days, Manchester United has been hammered 4-1 by modest Premier League side Middlesbrough and outplayed 1-0 by French club Lille in the Champions League.
In between, injured captain Roy Keane lambasted many of the team's young players in an interview censored by club officials.
So guess who's coming to Old Trafford on Sunday? None other than league-leading Chelsea, a club United already trails by 13 points.
"It's not an easy game because Chelsea have been in outstanding form, they are top of the league and they are on merit," Ferguson said with understatement after Wednesday's loss in France.
Ferguson has problems everywhere.
The midfield seems lost without Keane. The forwards aren't scoring, the defense looks shaky, a half dozen players are injured -- and there are rumblings that Ferguson should go.
The Scotsman was booed by many Manchester United's fans Wednesday at the Stade de France. Many fans chanted, "There's only one Keano" in support of the Irish midfielder, who is reported to be at odds with his manager and expected to leave the club after the season.
Wednesday's loss left Manchester United in third place in Group D in the Champions League.
It's Manchester United worst start in 11 years in Europe's No. 1 club competition, threatening the club's chance of reaching the lucrative knockout stage.
"What do I do now?" said a Daily Express headline, set alongside a photo of Ferguson scratching his head.
"The most important thing is to bring back confidence, bring back the winning habit," Ferguson said. "We've got a very difficult task right now."
Chelsea, meanwhile, is mired in its own mini-slump.
Despite a 40-game unbeaten string in the Premier League, the Blues have lost two of their last three games.
They were beaten 1-0 on Tuesday at Spain's Betis in the Champions League, which manager Jose Mourinho called the club's worst performance since he arrived a year ago. The loss also left the Blues in doubt of reaching the knockout stage.
Chelsea was also ousted last week from the League Cup in a penalty shootout against Charlton.
Arsenal trails Chelsea by 14 points -- good for only eighth place -- and plays at home Saturday against last-place Sunderland. Arsenal beat Sunderland last week 3-0 in the League Cup.
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