Chelsea are energised by an incredible turnaround in their fortunes in recent weeks when they have moved within three points of the leaders having trailed by 15 while United are on a high after reaching the Champions League final this week.
The pair face each other at Old Trafford in a mouthwatering match where victory for United would mean that the title is all but sewn up while a win for Chelsea would put the champions top on goal difference with two matches to play.
"If we win, I think we should win the league," Ferguson, whose side would need only one point from their final games against strugglers Blackburn Rovers and Blackpool to guarantee a record 19th title, told a news conference on Friday.
For Ancelotti, it is not quite so straightforward but the mere fact that his side are back in the hunt is surprising to some when two months ago pundits were wondering whether they would even manage a top-four finish for a Champions League spot.
"Nobody thought that we were able to fight," the Italian told a news conference. "A lot of time we spoke about the position for the Champions League and nobody said that we could come back to fight for the title."
Ferguson called it a "big game" and Ancelotti dubbed it a "final" while neutral fanss can sit back and enjoy what is basically a title decider with United on 73 points to Chelsea's 70 and both teams having the same goal difference.
DESTINY CALLS
While the pair agreed on the magnitude of the meeting at a ground where United have remained unbeaten for more than a year since Chelsea last visited them in the league, their reasons for how they came to be in this position were rather different.
Ever the pragmatist, Ferguson pointed to his team's "fantastic" home record in which they have dropped just two points all season, while Ancelotti hailed the more abstract notion of "destiny" helping them to eight wins in nine games.
The moment the stars began aligning for Chelsea was after a 2-1 comeback win over United at Stamford Bridge in March. The champions had seemed to face an impossible mission to catch up with the leaders after a damaging mid-season slump.
Dropped points for United, especially last Sunday's 1-0 defeat at Arsenal, put Chelsea back in the thick of things and having got this far Ancelotti urged his players to keep calm.
"Our bad moment was too long but now the destiny helps us to fight for the title again," said the Italian.
"We built last year a very good relationship with the players, a very good atmosphere and this helped us to maintain a good control of our confidence during that moment.
"We have to prepare this game like a final. To prepare a final you have to stay relaxed as much as possible."
Keeping calm, though, is exactly what United do so well at Old Trafford.
"Our home record is fantastic," Ferguson said. "It's probably the best in Europe, and it has to be on Sunday."
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