Vieira: United get home help from referees
Reuters - Wednesday 28 March 2012, 18:00
Manchester United
benefit from favourable refereeing decisions at home, according
to Manchester City executive Patrick Vieira.
"When United play at home they get some advantage that other
teams don't get," the former Arsenal midfielder told BBC Sport
at the Soccerex conference in Manchester on Wednesday.
"I think when you go to United, Madrid, Barcelona, or Milan,
when the referees referee these kind of games, it's always
difficult to go against these kind of teams. This is the way it
is."
Frenchman Vieira, who enjoyed many title battles against
United while at Arsenal, was speaking two days after Fulham had
a strong penalty claim turned down near the end of their 1-0
defeat by the champions at Old Trafford.
Victory allowed United to go three points clear of City,
with whom Vieira had a short spell as a player and is now a
football development executive.
"It's something the teams who are used to winning get all
the time, so we need to win games so we have this advantage in
the future," he said.
Vieira, who made 28 appearances for City after joining from
Inter Milan, said that despite his club seeing their lead
disappear in recent weeks, they deserve to win their first
English title since 1968.
"Since the start of the season we've been the best team and
played the best football," Vieira said.
"I believe the club deserves it. When you are first you have
the advantage, [United] are favourites."
Vieira also said the return of Carlos Tevez, out since
September after refusing to warm up as substitute in the
Champions League against Bayern Munich, was a boost.
"We're glad Carlos is back. The quality of these kind of
players will be really important at this stage of the season,"
he said. "The issue was between him and the club. The players
were really pleased to see him back."