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By Pete Oliver
MANCHESTER, England, May 9 (Reuters) - Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson trusts his former assistant Archie Knox to make it tough for Chelsea as they bid to wrest the Premier League title away from the champions on Sunday.
United will retain the title if they beat Wigan Athletic away, whatever Chelsea manage in their final match at home to Bolton Wanderers. The two teams are level on 84 points but United enjoy a far superior goal difference.
Ferguson expects no favours from Wigan manager and former United captain Steve Bruce but believes Bolton, under manager Gary Megson and his assistant Knox, could help his team by springing a surprise at Chelsea.
Bolton are safe from relegation, barring an enormous defeat at Chelsea, but Ferguson believes the presence of Knox, who also worked alongside Ferguson during a remarkable run of success at Scottish club Aberdeen, will keep them on their toes.
"All the press seem to be talking about is the integrity of Wigan. Nobody has questioned or even mentioned Bolton," Ferguson told reporters on Friday.
"It's interesting, the different attitudes because all we've got is Wigan players saying: 'We want to beat Man United'. That's fine. There's no problem with that because we are a big club.
IMPORTANT GAME
"And then you hear about Bolton players out celebrating all week and that amazes me, the change in attitude.
"Both teams are safe, both are relaxed, both are confident but one can celebrate and the other is all keyed up to play against Manchester United."
Ferguson added: "The thing that gives me confidence about Bolton is the manager and the assistant manager.
"I had Archie Knox for many years at Aberdeen and United. He will not enjoy having his players out celebrating and neither will Gary Megson have enjoyed hearing about his players out celebrating when it's an important game.
"I am confident these two kind of guys are taking their team down to Chelsea."
Despite Chelsea's inspired late run, United still hold the key to their prospects of winning a 10th league title under Ferguson on the first final-day decider for a decade, when United held off the challenge of Arsenal.
"I said early in the season that it would go to the wire," Ferguson said. "I'm sorry I said that but we are in the right position: win the game, win the league, so it's a great incentive for us."
