German international captain Michael Ballack believes Manchester United are showing signs of cracking up as the Premier League title race enters the final furlong.
Ballack knows what it feels like to blow the advantage in a title fight after his time at Bayer Leverkusen. The German club let the pressure from Bayern Munich get to them in 2000 and lost the Bundesliga crown on the last day of the season.
United have allowed Chelsea to draw level with them after losing 2-1 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday and Ballack, the two-goal hero of that victory, feels their spluttering form is evidence Sir Alex Ferguson's side are feeling the heat.
"Manchester United still have everything in their hands but the pressure is on them," Ballack said. "It looked like they were champions, but now it's getting smaller and tighter."