The 31-year-old believes United must win their remaining five games to overturn a two-point deficit to Chelsea after a tumultuous week for the defending champions, who were beaten 2-1 by the Blues at Old Trafford last weekend before exiting the Champions League due an away goals loss to Bayern Munich.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side meet Blackburn tomorrow, Manchester City (April 17), Tottenham (April 24), Sunderland (May 1) and Stoke (May 9) in matches which will determine if Ferdinand lifts the trophy once again this term.

Ferdinand told Sky Sports News: "There's five games left to try to win the title.

"It's not over. It's not in our hands, but we need to make it as difficult as possible for everybody else by winning each and everyone on of our games."

England's World Cup Group C campaign in South Africa, which begins against the United States on June 12 in Rustenburg, is not occupying Ferdinand's thoughts, despite the prospect of the defender lifting the trophy in Johannesburg on July 11.

"It's the last thing on your mind, if I'm honest," he added.

"All I'm thinking about is the result the other night (against Bayern Munich), which was very disappointing and now I'm thinking about Blackburn.

"I don't think much past that, to be honest.

"We don't have an England game between now and the end of the season so my thoughts are solely on Manchester United."

The defender has been restricted to 10 appearances this season by a back injury.

But he is confident the problem is now resolved and he can play a full role in the title run-in and the World Cup campaign.

"It was serious enough to shut down and do nothing for a couple of months and work out what the problem was," he said.

"We got to the root of the problem and I'm playing week-in, week-out.

"I played three games in seven or eight days last week or two weeks ago for the first time in a long time with no problem, so that hopefully puts me in good stead for the next couple of games."

mfl