Manchester United have increased their lead atop the premier league to an astonishing 15 points with only nine games left to go. To bring that into perspective, as long as United win four of their final five games, they are more or less guaranteed an incredible 20th premier league title. In reality, second placed Manchester City is not likely to win all nine of their remaining games, meaning that United should in fact only need to win two or three games to clinch the title. Compared to last year, this is an incredibly comfortable lead for the Red Devils that will allow them to focus on the FA Cup and staying healthy. As for Roberto Mancini at Manchester City, he is in the hot seat as another failed Europe campaign has already smarted. Compounded with a poor second place finish could see the Italian leave Manchester at the end of the season.
In other news this week, former English talisman and prodigy Michael Owen is set to retire at the end of the season after four or five years plagued by injury. 
Owen, who starred at Euro 2000 and won the Ballon d’Or in 2001 while at Liverpool, has struggled in recent years, being picked up for free by Manchester United a few years back only to be released and picked up by Stoke City this season. However, continuing with his streak of disappointments, Owen has failed to recapture his best form, and at the age of 33, he will be calling it quits. For all of you who are not too familiar with European football, Owen was truly one of the greats at his height, competing with the likes of Ronaldo and Zidane for the title of best player in the world, and David Beckham for best Englishman. A sad day indeed.